EP1807916A1

EP1807916A1 - Interface system for transferring electric power between a ship and port facility

Info

Publication number: EP1807916A1
Application number: EP05814966A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lionel Julliand; Etienne Masse
Original assignee: Converteam SAS
Current assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS
Priority date: 2004-11-03
Filing date: 2005-11-02
Publication date: 2007-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-02
Also published as: FR2877509B1; FR2877509A1; WO2006048549A1; EP1807916B1

Abstract

The inventive system for electric power transfer between a ship (100) and a port facility comprises a device (1) for an under-sea power cable which is electrically connected to the port facility, at least one transfer arm (20, 20', 21, 22, 22', 24, 125, 13'C) provided with plurality of electric power conductors (3A, 3B, 3C) which are electrically insulated from each other and connected to at least one additional power connector (8, 8', 5'A, 5'B, 135A, 135B) forming the end of said arm, wherein said additional connector (8, 8', 5'A, 5'B, 135A, 135B) is connectable to at least one additional power connector (101 , 5'A, 5'B, 135A, 135B) in such a way that a connection enabling to obtain an electrical power connection between the device (1) of the under-sea cable and electric facilities (110) of the ship facilities is established.

Description

Interface system for the transfer of electrical energy between a ship and a port facility.

The present invention relates to the general field of energy transfer between a ship and a port facility, particularly in the context of the transfer of a liquefied fuel between a ship and a gas or oil terminal. The invention mainly relates to an interface system for the transfer of electrical energy between a ship and a gas or oil terminal, as mentioned in the patent application EP 1 460 331 A1 mentioned below. For obvious safety reasons, the atmosphere around a liquefied natural gas transport vessel is considered explosive when the ship is docked in a gas terminal. Because of the risks of local presence of vapor phase fuel in the atmosphere, fuel leaks are indeed possible in the area where the loading and unloading of the gas takes place. More particularly, the invention relates to a transfer interface system for the power supply of a distribution station of a gas or oil terminal from the electrical energy produced by an electrically propelled vessel carrying liquefied fuel. .

The ship concerned by the invention is not necessarily electric propulsion; Moreover, the atmosphere in the port area is not necessarily potentially explosive since the port facility may be that for example of a commercial port. Indeed, in an appendix, and in a context according to an inverse problem, the invention also relates to a system for feeding a ship from an electrical station of a port facility.

For example, power generation equipment on a ship generally uses at least one alternator coupled to a diesel engine. When it is forbidden to use the diesel engines of a ship at the wharf, generally for the purpose of limiting pollution in the port area, it is relatively conventional to supply electricity-using equipment to the ship through a feeding system by sheathed cables that run on the dock and are brought to the ship via a crane or a gallows. The flexibility of the cables makes it possible to compensate for the effects of the tide, the roll, and / or a small offset of the vessel's position relative to the wharf. The terminations of such cables are typically provided with connectors intended to be connected to complementary connectors on the ship. Of course, with cables running on the platform, the ambient atmosphere must not be potentially explosive because a possible lack of insulation of the sheath of a cable or damage to a cable by a machine could then lead to explosion as soon as an electric arc appears.

However, the supply of a ship from an electrical station on land is not the main industrial application of the invention, which primarily concerns the operation of a gas terminal in which transport vessels of. liquefied natural gas and electric propulsion come charging and unloading. Electric propulsion on a ship generally uses a main engine that drives one or more alternators that produce electrical energy intended in particular to supply electric motors driving propellers. Typically, in an electrically propelled LNG type ship, the propulsion system of the vessel comprises a main engine of diesel type or gas turbine which can be fed by the gas vapors taken from the gaseous skies of the vessels of the vessel which contain the gas. liquefied. For example, US Pat. Nos. 4,417,878 and 2,722,760 disclose propellant systems of this type.

Conventionally, to discharge the liquefied gas from a tank of a vessel to a tank of a gas terminal, a pump is immersed in the tank of the vessel and an articulated arm discharge system ensures the flow of liquefied gas which is pumped. This system ensures a certain degree of freedom between the ship and the wharf of the gas terminal. Such an articulated arm system is known for example from patent document EP0947464. A similar operation is carried out for filling the vessels of the vessel from tanks of the gas terminal.

Generally, the liquefied gas discharged into the tanks of the gas terminal is then transferred to a high pressure pump which discharges it into a heat exchanger so that it is re-gasified before being transferred to a gas pipeline at a substantially ambient temperature. These operations, known per se, are expensive in energy for the gas terminal. The latter may further include other conventional facilities, such as a gas vapor system comprising compressors and condensers and a sampling and heating circuit of seawater comprising pumps and burners. The energy needs of the gas terminal are therefore significant, and the costs incurred for the operation of the terminal are all the greater as the terminals are most often located in locations remote from the main transmission networks. It is therefore generally necessary to build a specific ancillary network for powering the terminal, which further increases for the terminal operator the cost of the electricity supplied by this specific network.

Moreover, when the ship is docked, the power plant of the edge is far from being used at full capacity, and in particular the electric propulsion system of the ship that is powered by this plant is not requested. However, during liquefied gas transfer operations between the ship and the gas terminal, excess gas vapors are produced in the gaseous skies of the tank of the vessel and the tank of the terminal. These vapors above the liquid phase, called "boil off" in English, are generally managed by a gas vapor circuit comprising a low pressure compressor and a condenser to evacuate the excess vapors. The latter can be taken from the steam circuit to feed the ship's dockside power plant to produce electrical energy to be supplied to the gas terminal. The electricity thus produced by the alternators of the ship at the quay, typically from 20 to 36 MW ₁ can be used for the specific needs of the gas terminal and / or resold on an electrical network.

The principle of the transfer to a gas terminal of the energy produced by the ship's central unit is taught in patent application EP 1 460 331 A1. However, the only technical solution mentioned in this ^" patent document ^" is to provide a flexible connection between an electrical power supply interface at the ship and an electric power receiving interface at the gas terminal. As explained above, a connection entirely by flexible cables in a potentially explosive atmosphere would however not be acceptable in terms of safety because of possible insulation defects of the sheath of a cable. The present invention proposes solutions to reliably and securely ensure this transfer of electrical energy, and also to solve, if necessary, the inverse problem of the transfer to the ship of a power supplied by the onshore power grid which supplies power to the ship. port installation, for example to prevent the ship at the dock from consuming heavy fuel to operate the unloading pumps of its tanks. There is a real need for electric power connection means that are adapted to the operational constraints of the ship and the port facility, and in particular to the safety constraints in the case of a gas or oil terminal. To achieve such electrical power connection means between the ship and the terminal, and more generally between a ship and a port facility, a first solution that appears naturally to a skilled person is to adopt a system with articulated electric arms mounted on the dock, similar to the articulated arm cryogenic driving system used for unloading and loading the liquefied gas. Similarly, several articulations can be used in the form of pivoting electrical connections each in a plane of the space so as to allow a certain degree of freedom between the ship and the terminal platform.

Since the atmosphere around a gas-carrying vessel at the quay is considered explosive, it is therefore necessary to control this atmosphere around each connection of the articulated electric-arm system, and in particular around at least one type connection. quickly connectable and disconnectable that equips the system and ensures the connection with a connector on the ship. To electrically connect the articulated arm system to a terminal distribution station, particularly if this system is to be moved along the wharf to accommodate different lengths of vessels, a solution that quickly comes to the spirit of an electrician of the field of power currents would consist of connecting the articulated arms to flexible power cables running along the wharf. The flexibility of the cables would make it possible to move the articulated electric-arm system along the platform without having to undo the connection between this system and the cables at the quay, this displacement being accompanied, for example, by a corresponding winding or unwinding of the cables. .

However, a solution consisting in using sheathed cables arranged on the quay is not satisfactory, in particular for medium or high voltages, typically from 3.3 kV to 11 kV in 60 Hz. Indeed, the aging of the sheath can lead to arcing between the core of the cable and the insulator of the sheath, which can lead to an explosion if combustible gas is at a certain concentration in the air in the vicinity of an arc. It is also not possible to use bare overhead cables carried by insulators, even on only part of the cable routing, because it is necessary to avoid any risk of electric arc in the environment around the ship. The presence on the platform of machines such as cranes, or birds that could create a short circuit between cables, are all risk factors of electric arc that prohibit a configuration of bare cables overhead in a gas terminal. The cable trays on the platform must therefore be buried on the platform in a sealed manner to the potentially explosive atmosphere of the wharf, so that it can not surround a cable sheath. In addition, if the electrical arm system is to be moved, the areas where the cables are flexed must be protected in a non-explosive controlled atmosphere. In all cases, this requires major civil engineering work at the terminal. The Applicant initially envisaged using sheathed power cables which would be surrounded by a flexible envelope, for example of the air chamber type kept at a short distance from the surface of the sheaths, and to circulate permanently in this envelope. a non-explosive gas by maintaining a pressure slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure so as not to have a fuel gas inlet in case of accidental perforation of the envelope. So, a eventual arcing in a cable would occur in an inert atmosphere.

However, the amount of non-explosive gas needed, for example controlled air or nitrogen, would be particularly important and would require expensive means of gas recycle given the flow of gas required for circulation. In addition, in terms of safety, it can not be excluded a perforation or a significant tear of the envelope which would result in at least a local loss of the inert atmosphere around the cables. Moreover, even in the case of a port facility without potentially explosive atmosphere, it is generally problematic in terms of safety to pass non-buried power cables on a platform when this platform is used by devices such as cranes or vehicles. The problems are further increased if there is also the need to use flexible cables to move a power connector along the dock and connect it with ships of different lengths.

In order to achieve electrical power connection means between a ship and a port facility while limiting the investment and the dock space of these means, and while allowing to meet the security conditions in explosive atmosphere if the port facility consists of a gas or oil terminal, the invention proposes a system for transferring electrical energy between the ship and the port facility, characterized in that it comprises: a submarine power cable device connected to the port installation, at least one transfer arm comprising a plurality of electrical power conductors electrically isolated from each other and which are connected to at least one power connector forming an end of said arm, said at least one power connector being adapted to be connected to minus one additional power connector to establish a connection state to realize a no electrical connection of power between said submarine cable device and electrical equipment on board the ship.

In an advantageous embodiment of the energy transfer system according to the invention, the submarine power cable device comprises at least one portion which has the shape of a sheet consisting of a group of electric cables of which at least two are electrically insulated from each other, said sheet being adapted to undergo a certain curvature.

Advantageously, the submarine cable device comprises a substantially fixed portion and at least one movable portion relative to a dock of the port facility.

Preferably, at least one moving part of the submarine cable device is in the form of a flexible sheet arranged so that its curvature is in a substantially vertical plane. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows of the embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings.

The following description will be limited to a gas terminal and a LNG-type vessel, but it is understood that the invention applies analogously to a petroleum terminal and a petroleum vessel.

A first embodiment of an electric energy transfer system according to the invention is illustrated very schematically in FIGS. 56 and 57. The system comprises a marine barge 30 electrically connected via a cable device 1 submarine power to a submarine output 200 of high voltage cables, which output also corresponds to an underground entrance of the high voltage cables to a distribution station of a gas terminal. This interface between submarine cables and underground cables is either an electrical power receiving interface at a platform 50 of the terminal, or an interface for transmitting electrical power from the dock to the ship. Advantageously, the submarine cable device 1 may consist of a flexible sheet formed by insulated high-voltage cables, as explained below and illustrated in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c. This sheet is held between two water by floats 15, which allows the cable sheaths remain permanently immersed and as the potentially explosive atmosphere of the terminal does not come into contact with these sheaths. There are many techniques for holding two high-voltage submarine cables together, for example the teachings of US4274757 for cable lift floats. To allow deployment and retreading of the cable device 1 while remaining substantially at the same height between two waters, it is obvious that the plane of the sheet must here be substantially vertical.

The marine barge 30 can be motorized with a small propulsion system fed by a liquefied fuel tank under high pressure. Such a boat is well known per se and used for various applications in ports. Such a marine barge is shown in profile in Figure 5 in another embodiment where a section of the submarine cable device extends in depth. Furthermore, a detailed view of an example of connection between the cable device 1 and a telescopic transfer arm 21 carried by the barge is visible in FIG. 18. FIG. 56, the barge 30 is moored to the platform 50 and the sheet forming the cable device 1 is folded accordion within the limits of its resilience. A vessel, for example an LNG carrier, is docked at the platform 50, parallel to the edge 50 'of the wharf, for discharging the liquefied gas via articulated arm cryogenic conduits 150.

An electrical power supply interface at the ship includes a power connector 101 complementary to a power connector 8 disposed at the upper end of the telescopic transfer arm 21. Thus, the connection state shown in FIG. makes it possible to establish an electrical power connection between the submarine cable device 1 and the electrical equipment on board the ship as referenced 110 in FIG. 19 which shows in detail an example of complementary power connectors 8 and 101 between them . As explained in more detail below in FIG. 19, the power connector 8 may be formed by a substantially spherical head which has electrically conductive surfaces as referenced 81 and 84 and connected to electric power conductors electrically isolated from each other in the transfer arm 21. The power complementary connector 101 then comprises a hollow sphere portion on the surface of which are arranged elements of contacts, for example lamellar contacts as referenced 111 and 114, connected to electric power conductors 115 electrically insulated from each other in the ship 100. These connectors 8 and 101 are adapted to be joined together and held in contact pressure. against each other for example by means of an electromagnet 105 visible in Figure 19. This electromagnet 105 is preferably powered by a generator 106 of direct current.

The opening of the connector 101 is flared so as to constitute with the spherical connector 8 a connection assembly said fast type. In particular, the ability to quickly disconnect is well suited to an emergency case consisting of a precipitous departure of the ship following a fire in the terminal. The control of the power supply stop 106 of the electromagnet 105 causes an automatic disconnection of the connectors 8 and 101, and even if this stop would not have worked, the traction exerted by the ship will eventually uncouple the two connectors without risk of mechanical blockage and will not hinder the departure of the ship.

The electrical energy transfer system according to the invention comprises at least one phase conductor and one neutral conductor. In its most common application, the system is intended for ships producing a three-phase electric current, and the transfer arm 21 then preferably comprises three phase conductors and a neutral conductor.

In the state of connection which is achieved after the insertion of the spherical head 8 in the hollow sphere portion of the power complementary connector 101, detailed means further allow to maintain the electrical surfaces of the spherical head bearing against the contact elements of the hollow sphere while allowing a degree of pivoting of the transfer arm 21 in all directions. It is thus realized an electrical and mechanical connection with a ball joint which makes it possible to compensate for the pitch and roll movements of the barge, which are generally unavoidable even though they may be mitigated by relative docking of the barge to the vessel by ropes and / or gaffs. Furthermore, the transfer arm 21 can be telescopic thanks to a set 29 of sliding conductors comprising a set 19 of sliding contacts, as detailed in Figure 18, to facilitate the insertion of the spherical head 8 into the complementary connector 101 In addition, the electrical connection at the barge between the cable device 1 and the transfer arm 21 is preferably pivotable about an axis such as the axis A shown in FIG. the barge to pivot on itself by letting the sheet under its hull, for example to return to dock at the dock when the ship 100 must leave the terminal. In the absence of such a pivotal connection, the curvature of the ply would be substantially modified, and the total ply length of the cable device 1 should be substantially increased in order to respect radii of curvature within the resilience limits of the ply. , which would further increase the size of the device 1.

Finally, the transfer arm 21 is preferably orientable with a certain range of angular deflection firstly to be able to be positioned at least approximately in the axis of revolution of the connector 101 of the ship to deploy the telescopic portion of the arm 21 and reach the rapid insertion of the spherical head 8 in the connector 101. The freedom of orientation of the arm can be obtained through a mechanical ball 4 forming the lower end of the arm, as detailed in Figures 13 and 18. The arm transfer 21 is then carried and guided in orientation for example by a system with two telescopic cylinders 86. Then, once the connectors 8 and 101 together and held in contact pressure against each other for example thanks to the electromagnet 105 visible in FIG. 19, the telescopic extension system of the transfer arm 21 and the system with carrying cylinders of the arm are deactivated. The cylinder rods can then freely follow the movement of the transfer arm caused by the pitch and roll movements of the barge, and the telescopic arm can lengthen or shorten freely to compensate for variation in the ship's waterline due to the filling or emptying of its liquefied gas tanks. Indeed, even if these buoyancy variations are most often compensated to a certain extent by a filling or unloading ballast ship, the waterline of such a ship in these conditions generally varies from one to a few meters.

In the absence of a certain range of angular clearance allowed for the transfer arm 21, it would first of all be particularly difficult to achieve the insertion of the spherical head 8 without violently banging the walls of the flared opening of the connector 101 of the ship. Then, and even if the arm is telescopic, the mechanical stresses imposed on the arm by the relative movement of the barge relative to the ship would probably lead to a rupture of the arm, or to abrasion of stops in the sphere portion. hollow of the connector 101 to limit the play of the spherical head 8 in this connector and prevent the collapse of the lamellar contacts such as 111 and 114.

In the context of the application of the system according to the invention to a gas or oil terminal, it is necessary to protect by a non-explosive atmosphere, called inert atmosphere in the following, all the electrical connections that could be in danger. contact with the atmosphere of the dock in the absence of such protection by inerting. Examples of embodiments of inert atmospheres are detailed below, and in particular FIG. 20 schematically represents channels for inerting connections with an inert gas such as nitrogen from cryogenic tanks of liquid nitrogen on the ship.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 56 and 57 is well adapted to the transfer of electrical energy from or to ships 100 of different lengths. Indeed, the articulated arm cryogenic lines 150 remain at the same location on the platform 50, which implies that the position along the dock of the bow and / or the stern of a ship 100 varies depending on the length of the ship. Preferably, the connector 101 of the ship is located at the stern of the ship, that is to say relatively far from the articulated arms 150 for unloading the gas, for security reasons. Of moreover, the propulsion system aboard a ship with the electrical equipment and in particular the alternator are generally located at the rear of the ship. The arrangement of the electric power supply interface, and therefore of the connector 101, at the stern of the ship thus makes it possible to limit the cable runs inside the ship. The position along the wharf of the connector 101 therefore varies according to the length of the ship, and the motorized barge 30 connected to the terminal by a device 1 of submarine cable whose distance between the ends is adjustable with a large amplitude D1 allows advantageously to achieve an electric energy transfer interface system that adapts to different sizes of ships. On the other hand, a telescopic transfer arm 21 also makes it possible to adapt the transfer system to different heights of hulls measured at the stern of the ships. Indeed, the connector 101 of a ship will be a priori disposed above the upper edge of the hull to avoid a provision for which it should pierce the hull and provide reinforcements to alter as little as possible its mechanical structure in case of crossed by the connector.

This embodiment of a power transfer system according to the invention, however, has certain disadvantages. In particular, the space occupied by the underwater power cable device 1 is relatively large even when the cable layer forming the device is folded into a park position as in FIG. 56. A system must also be provided. which allows to fold this sheet while remaining within the limits of its resilience, while having a geometry the least bulky possible and which is not disturbed by the waves and the current that can affect the terminal. For seas with tides, it is also necessary to provide a sheet which tolerates a certain twist in its vertical plane to allow a certain difference in height between its two ends, this torsion being a function of the tidal coefficients since the height of the barge 30 by compared to the underwater outlet 200 can vary by several meters. Even by optimizing the space required for the parking of the cable device 1 with the barge 30 when there is no LNG 100 to dock, this space remains relatively large and may possibly impede the movement of other barges. In this respect, it should be known that in a gas terminal, the support of the platform of a dock for the docking of a LNG tanker does not generally form a solid space, in order to avoid wave resonance phenomena. pressure between two parallel platforms in case liquefied gas falls on the surface of the sea. The drop of a drop of liquefied gas that vaporizes suddenly in contact with water causes indeed a kind of explosion. The platform of a platform is therefore generally supported by spaced apart concrete pillars or by a metal frame. In the following, other solutions are proposed for a power transfer system according to the invention which does not have the drawbacks of the previous embodiment with respect to FIGS. 56 and 57.

First of all, it is possible for a wharf at a terminal or a port facility to be specifically dedicated to the same vessels or at least to vessels that are planned to be moored so that the stern is always placed at the same reference point of the platform. If it is decided to install a system of energy transfer according to the invention, it is then not necessary that the device 1 of submarine cable is movable in the direction parallel to the edge 50 'of the dock since the distance between the stern of the ship and the interface 200 between submarine cables and underground cables is always the same. In addition, there are alternatives to using a barge to carry the transfer arm.

Figure 1 shows schematically such an alternative solution. The submarine cable device 1 is fixed below the level h1 of the lowest tide, as shown in Figure 42 which schematically shows a partial view of the transfer system in a direction parallel to the edge of the dock. The cable device 1 is formed by a bundle of individual cables held between two water being fixed to support elements of the platform of the platform such as pillars 74. Such an embodiment corresponds to the cable device 1f drawn in dashed lines in FIG. 55. In order to facilitate the transport and installation of the device 1, this bundle of cables may be formed by a sheet consisting of a bundle of cables at least two of which are electrically insulated from each other, this sheet being able to have some curvature in order to be transported rolled up to the dock.

Floats 15 attached to the cable bundle may be provided to increase the buoyancy of the device and reduce the stresses due to the weight of the cables, while having a slightly negative buoyancy so that for safety reasons the cables do not go back to the surface of the water in case of rupture of a fastening element of the beam to a pillar 74. This bundle of cables extends between a submarine output of high voltage cables, such as the output 200 mentioned in the description of FIG. 56, and a submerged connector 55 carried by a rigid vertical duct 149 fixed to the edge of the quay and containing a set 59 of high-voltage bars made of an insulating material molded so as to electrically isolate the bar conductors from each other and to establish a tight protection against the atmosphere. The submerged connector 55 makes it possible to electrically connect the device

1 of cable to the assembly 59 of insulated bars which plunge from the dock to the connector 55. These bars are bent at the edge of the dock to leave the horizontal to a pivoting connection assembly to which they are electrically connect. This pivoting electrical connection assembly is mounted on a support assembly 45, and consists of a ball joint which comprises on the one hand a female connector 102 having a hollow sphere portion on the surface of which contact elements and contacts are arranged. on the other hand a male connector 8 'similar to the connector 8 mentioned above, ie formed by a substantially spherical head which comprises electrically conductive surfaces and connected to electrical power conductors electrically isolated from each other in the transfer arm here referenced 20. The connection assembly is not fast type, in that the contact pressure between the two connectors 8 'and 102 is provided by a tightening torque applied to threaded rods 141 screwed into the female connector 102 and provided with sliding pads 142 adapted to press on the rear part of the spherical head of the male connector 8 '. It is therefore not possible to automatically disconnect these two connectors, since it takes an operator with tools to manually unscrew the threaded rods.

In FIG. 42, the transfer arm 20 is provided with a telescopic section by virtue of an assembly 29, similar to that of FIG. 18, of sliding sliding contact conductors, and is carried and guided in orientation by a two-point system. telescopic cylinders 86 whose rods are provided with ball joints 88 fixed to the arm 20. The non-visible end of the arm 20, to the right of the figure, is provided with a spherical connector 8 as shown in FIG. that the transfer arm 20 is supported by a stationary assembly on the platform 50, it is necessary that the assembly 29 of sliding conductors allow sufficient telescopic travel to compensate for the relative movement of the vessel with respect to the platform while the transfer system energy is operational. If the tidal amplitude is large, this relative movement is predominant in the vertical direction, and it may be useful to provide a relatively long arm so that the limited angular movement of the arm, however, allows a sufficient vertical movement amplitude for the connector. spherical 8.

2, another energy transfer system according to the invention is shown schematically, and allows a smaller footprint of the platform than with the previous system in connection with Figures 1 and 42. The transfer arm 20 'is similar to the transfer arm 20 preceding and its end opposite side of the ship comprises a pivoting connection assembly with a spherical head 8 'adapted to pivot in a female connector mounted on a support assembly 65. This female connector, not shown, is similar to the connector 102 above, and is connected to a set 148 of insulated bars that end at a submerged connector 55 connected to the submarine power cable device 1. The assembly 65 which supports the female connector as well as the assembly 148 of bars is here vertically movable along guide means 70 consisting for example of a pillar provided with ^" fine vertical guide ^" formed by ^" a rack ^" , this pillar being mounted under the platform of the platform.The vertical displacement of the assembly 65 can be obtained by a motor mounted on this assembly and which control of the toothed wheels cooperating with the rack in a movement controlled by the vertical displacement of the ship. Thus, the telescopic function of the transfer arm 20 'can have a very limited movement, since the distance between the two spherical heads connectors 8 and 8' forming the two ends of the arm varies little through the slaving of the aforementioned displacement.

The above implies that the submerged connector 55 must also be movable vertically, and that the end of the submarine cable device 1 which is connected to said connector must be able to cause in its vertical displacement a part of the device 1. For this, the Subsea cable device 1 comprises at least one part 11 called mobile part which has the form of a sheet 2 consisting of a relatively flat array of cables 25 as visible in Figure 2a or Figure 2b.

In such a sheet 2, at least two cables 25 are electrically isolated from each other, so as to have at least one phase and a neutral. The plane of the web is here substantially horizontal, so that this web 2 is able to undergo a certain curvature in a vertical plane so that the curvature of the mobile part 11 of the submarine cable device 1 can adapt to the displacement. vertical end of its end connected to the submerged connector 55. The fixed portion 10 of the device 1 may be a beam of a structure different from that of a sheet, and connected to the movable portion 11 by a submarine connector. However, for reasons of installation, it is advantageous that these parts 10 and 11 consist of the same sheet 2. The virtual border area between these parts 10 and 11 respectively fixed and mobile is then at a level of fastening element 174 of the web to a platform structural element, for example at the area marked by a dashed square in FIG.

At high tide, the connector 8 of the arm 20 'may be located somewhat above the level of the dock. Once the ship has left, the arm 20 'can be pivoted so that the connector 8 comes face to a maintenance station 79 disposed along the edge of the dock and which it is possible to proceed with the cleaning and / or the placing under cover of connector. 2a, an exemplary embodiment of a sheet 2 is shown very schematically in cross section. The sheet comprises two rows of cables 25 electrically insulated from each other by insulating sheaths 26. Sixteen cables 25 are thus contained in a peripheral sheath 27, and it is thus possible to have three phases and one neutral each using four cables 25. A more detailed description such submarine high voltage cable plies is contained for example in EP 1 124 236. In order to increase the flexibility of the ply, it may be desired to use a single row of cables. In addition, the section of each cable is not necessarily circular, and the embodiment of the web 2 in Figure 2b shows that a more elongated section is possible. Thus, we can reduce the ratio between the thickness e and the width L of the web in comparison with the more conventional embodiment of Figure 2a. The web shown in cross section in Figure 2b comprises four conductive cables 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D substantially disposed in the same plane. Each cable here is identical, and its conductive portion comprises a plurality of individual conductors such as strands 25A visible in Figure 2C.

Such a web structure is visible in three dimensions in FIG. 39. This structure comprises a core 28 disposed between two pairs of conductive cables at half the width of the web. This core 28 may for example consist of a nylon cable, and must have good tensile strength. Advantageously, the length of the core cable 28 is a few percent lower than that of the two adjacent conductor cables 2B and 2C which is itself a few cents lower than that of the two conductive cables 2A and 2D of the lateral ends of the sheet 2 This implies that the conductive cables have a slightly undulating shape while the core cable 28 remains permanently relatively tight. The inner space of the peripheral sheath 27 of the sheet is provided sufficient to allow the corrugations of the conductive cables. On the other hand, this peripheral sheath 27 generally has a certain elasticity so as to be slightly bent in its plane. For example, even if the material used for the sheath is relatively rigid, parts of the sheath in the form of uniformly spaced accordion bellows can be provided to confer the overall elasticity necessary for the flexion of the sheath.

Thus, a submerged connector 55 connected to a longitudinal end of the sheet 2 can be rotated a few degrees in the plane of the sheet until two cables on the same side of the core cable 28 have almost no ripples and are at the limit of relaying in tension the core cable 28. The possibility for a sheet 2 to be able to be slightly bent in its tablecloth can have advantages in some embodiments of the electrical energy transfer system according to the invention. invention as explained below.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically represents another embodiment of the electrical energy transfer system according to the invention, similar in principle to the previous embodiment in connection with FIG. 2. The configuration of the platform 50 is different from the previous one. this sense that the wharf has an advance of several meters whose border remains substantially parallel to the direction of the wharf. The articulated arm cryogenic conduits 150, as well as the mooring points of the ship, are installed on this advance. The length of the edge of the advance is less than the length of the ship, so that large spaces are cleared between the dock and both the bow and the stern of the ship. It is thus possible to arrange between the non-advanced edge of the platform and the stern of the ship a unit 65 which supports a transfer arm 24, this assembly being vertically movable along guide means 70 consisting for example of fixed guide rails. on a stationary vertical metallic structure carried by the wharf. Such a vertical metal structure, with the support assembly 65, the transfer arm 24, and the lifting means of the assembly and the pivoting means of the arm, are similar respectively to the structure referenced 71 and the assembly support 65 with the transfer arm 24 and the lifting and pivoting means 66, 67, 68, 69 in the embodiment with reference to FIGS. 31, 36, 40 and 41. The connection of the transfer arm 24 to a submerged connector 55 per via a pivoting connection assembly T is visible in FIG. 37.

In the embodiment corresponding to Figure 3, the transfer arm 24 is not telescopic strictly speaking, because it does not include sliding sliding contact assembly such as the assembly 29 mentioned above. However, it is necessary here to ensure a displacement in translation of the arm 24 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the edge of the wharf, to allow in particular the insertion of the connector 8 of the arm in the complementary connector disposed on the ship for the passage at a connection state of the energy transfer system. For this, it is advantageous to suspend the arm 24 to a carriage movable in translation and carried by the support assembly 65, as performed in the embodiment with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37. The translational movement of the arm 24 and therefore also the submerged connector 55 connected to the arm implies that the end of the movable portion 11 of the submarine cable device 1 which is connected to the connector 55 must follow this translational movement. This portion 11 formed by a sheet 2 of cables must therefore be movable not only in a vertical plane to follow the tide with the support assembly 65 but must also be able to bend globally in the plane of the sheet. A web 2 as described above with respect to FIG. 2b makes it possible to support such flexion.

In the preceding embodiments with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it has been shown that the underwater cable device 1 may advantageously consist of the same uninterrupted sheet 2. However, in the configuration of the platform of Figure 3, it may be interesting that these fixed and mobile parts are physically separated.

FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent a similar embodiment of the electric energy transfer system according to the invention, in which the telescopic transfer arm 21 is carried by a barge 30 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the description of FIGS. 56 and 57. The path of this barge 30 is here generally perpendicular to the edge of the wharf, but the connection principle of the power connector 8 of the arm to the complementary connector 101 disposed on the ship remains identical to that which has already been explained. The submarine cable device 1 here comprises a mobile part 11 'which has the form of a flexible sheet vertically arranged so that its curvature is inscribed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of the fixed part 10 of the device 1. The fixed and movable parts respectively 10 and 11 'are connected together by a submerged connection assembly 55' disposed below the level of the lowest tide, so that the cable device 1 remains fully immersed in all the conditions of tides.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the flexibility of the ply 11 'in the vertical plane corresponding to the plane of the figure enables the barge 30 to follow the full amplitude HM of the tide while maintaining the electrical connection established between the immersed connection assembly 55 'and a connection assembly 5 disposed on the barge 30 as shown in more detail in FIG. 18. For this, the movable portion 11' of the cable device 1 has a first end which is electrically connected to the transfer arm 21 through the connection assembly 5 and a second end which is electrically connected to the fixed part 10 via the submerged connection assembly 55 '. The connection assembly 5 is not necessarily pivotable in this configuration. Indeed, the barge 30 can be permanently maintained perpendicular to the direction of the wharf by means of anchoring which prevent it from pivoting on itself and twist the sheet of the portion 11 '. The reverse of the barge, in particular for a disconnection of the power connectors 8 and 101, can be done by reversing the rotation of the propeller that propels the barge or by pulling anchor cables from the dock.

Preferably, to facilitate the installation and maintenance of the submarine cable device 1, its fixed part and / or its mobile part are connected to the submerged connection assembly 55 'via removable waterproof connectors. The submerged assembly 55 'can optionally be placed in a bottom chamber that can be filled with air and then emptied of this air so that divers can come connect or remove from this set 55 'a portion 10 or 11' while keeping the plug-in connectors dry. In the absence of such an air chamber, an intervention on the withdrawable connectors will require a priori to raise the submerged connection assembly 55 'to the surface of the sea, in particular to plug the sealed connectors avoiding pollution by the seawater inside the connection.

The dock configurations accommodating ships that are planned to be moored so that the stern is always placed at the same mark are however relatively rare, especially in the case of wharves for gas terminals. The three preceding embodiments in connection with Figures 1, 3 and 4 can then each be modified to be adapted to allow a variable position of the electrical energy transfer system according to the invention along a platform.

FIG. 6 schematically represents an adaptation of the embodiment with reference to FIG. 1. The support assembly 45 is movable along guide means 60 such as, for example, rails, and the transfer arm 20 is connected to a connector. immersed 55 mobile with the arm and connected to the free end of the web forming the mobile part 11 of the submarine cable device 1. Means are provided for the assembly 59 of insulated bars and the immersed connector 55 to be integral in translation with the support assembly 45 and the arm 20. The longest permissible vessel is shown schematically in light lines, and the most admissible short is shown in dark lines. Each ship has a complementary connector 101, not shown, arranged at the stern facing the dock. The distance D1 between the two complementary connectors 101 thus corresponds to the translation interval that the support assembly 45 must be able to perform to make it possible to satisfy all the ship length configurations between the two extreme sizes represented. This embodiment is also shown schematically in FIG. 55, by a wharf view showing the entire energy transfer system. The distance D1 substantially corresponds to the length of the rails 60 on which the mobile support assembly 45 is installed. The height of the set 59 of insulated bars is greater than the maximum amplitude HM of the tide. The fixed part 10 of the submarine cable device 1 is constituted by a sheet kept immersed by fastening elements 174 attached to the pillars 74 which support the platform. The movable portion 11 extends between the submerged connector 55 and the attachment member 174 closest. As can be seen by comparing the two positions a) and b) of the ply, the flexibility of the ply enables it to modify its curvature to adapt to the displacement of its end connected to the connector 55. The floats 15 are designed so that this part mobile 11 has a slightly negative buoyancy.

FIG. 7 schematically represents a substantial adaptation of the embodiment in connection with FIG. 4. The connection assembly 5 disposed on the barge 30 is here necessarily pivoting to allow the barge to position itself parallel to the wharf to go to the level of the connector 101 of the ship and then turn to be perpendicular to the dock as in the figure for a connection of the connector 8 of the transfer arm with the connector 101. The two fixed and mobile parts 10 and 11 of the cable device 1 underwater are substantially aligned in vertical projection on the horizontal plane of the figure, but the web of the portion 11 is adapted to withstand some bending in a horizontal plane as previously described in connection with Figure 2b. This makes it possible to maneuver the barge 30 over a distance of the order of a few meters perpendicularly to the wharf in order first of all not to risk that an element of the barge or the telescopic transfer arm is struck by the bow of the ship. when approaching the ship to dock the dock. This then makes it possible not to require an excessive travel of the telescopic transfer arm to go from a disconnected state of the electrical energy transfer system according to the invention to a connection state of said system or vice versa. FIG. 8 diagrammatically represents an adaptation of the embodiment with reference to FIG. 3. FIGS. 9 and 10 schematically represent a displacement operation of the energy transfer system of FIG. 8 followed by a pivoting of the transfer arm for FIG. preparing said system to go into a connection state. A large part of the installation, in particular the transfer arm 24, the lifting means of the assembly and the pivoting means of the arm, is identical to the device shown in FIG. support 65 which is here integral in translation with a carrier device 46 movable along guide means 61. The carrier 46 which supports the entire structure is visible in detail in Figure 36 and is provided with wheels. The guide means 61 consist, for example, of a single reinforced concrete rail fixed to the platform and which has rolling surfaces for the wheels of the conveyor 46.

This embodiment with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is not only applicable to a platform configuration which has an advance. It is also applicable to a configuration with a completely straight edge of the quay and can thus be an alternative to the embodiment in connection with FIG. 6. For this, it is preferable to further back the position of the complementary connector 101 towards the stern of the vessel, and to provide an angle typically between 30 and 70 degrees between the axis of revolution of the connector 101 and the direction of the ship. To establish the connection, the movable carrier device 46 with the carrier assembly 65 is brought to a level of the dock that remains behind the stern of the vessel, and the arm 24 is pivoted to the connector 101 at an angle of between 30 and 70 degrees. compared to the wharf. The pivoting position of the arm 24 before the docking of the ship can be provided with the arm directed towards the middle of the dock, ie symmetrical with respect to the so-called storage position shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9, the energy transfer system according to the invention is represented at a moment when the ship finishes docking with the wharf 50. The transfer arm 24 is pivoted into a so-called storage position so that the 8 ball head connector is approximately above the edge of the dock. This storage position of the arm 24 is shown in more detail in FIG. 35, as well as by a view facing the dock in FIG. 40 at positions c) and d). When the conveyor 46 is located at one of the two ends of the concrete rail 61, as in FIG. position d), there can be provided a maintenance station 79 raised to access the connector 8 of the arm 24 for example to proceed with the removal of a tarpaulin and cleaning and optionally drying the contact surfaces of the connector shortly before the translation of the conveyor 46. It is understood that this displacement of the entire structure carried by the conveyor 46, with the transfer arm 24 in its storage position, can also be performed before the docking of a ship during or after this docking.

In FIG. 10, the conveyor 46 is positioned at the same level as the complementary connector 101 of the ship. The motor means for moving this conveyor 46 are then deactivated, or remain activated, but are then used as lifting means 68 visible in FIG. 36 to vertically move an elevator member 66 along the vertical guide means 70. support 65 is pivotally mounted on the elevator member 66 by means of pivoting means 67 along a vertical axis A4. These pivoting means 67 are adapted so that the relative pivoting possible between the support assembly 65 and the elevator member 66 is greater than or equal to 90 °, so as to allow a substantially horizontal portion 24A of the transfer arm 24 of FIG. pivot at least between two positions respectively parallel and perpendicular to the dock.

Thus, the lifting means 68 are actuated to move the elevator member 66 so that part 24A of the transfer arm 24 is positioned at the same height as the connector 101 of the ship. As in the embodiment corresponding to Figure 3, the arm 24 is pivoted in a position substantially perpendicular to the dock and is then moved in translation relative to its support 65 so that its connector 8 can be inserted into the connector 101 of the ship and establish the connection status of the energy transfer system.

The energy transfer systems according to the invention described above are particularly suitable for port or terminal configurations where the ships dock a dock always in the same direction and therefore always have the same port or starboard side facing the dock. There are however many ports or gas terminals or tankers in which docks are configured so that ships can berth in both directions in order to shorten the average duration of a ship's berthing. In the case of LNG tankers, many of them present tank outflows on both port and starboard sides, so that they can be connected from one side or the other to shore-side facilities via cryogenic pipes with articulated arms 150.

If a ship berths a platform 50 having its bow directed substantially towards the interface 200 which provides the connection between the submarine cables and the underground cables dedicated to the transfer of energy between this dock and the ship, the stern of the ship with the complementary connector is remote from the transfer arm of the energy transfer system according to the invention in the embodiments described above. It is then necessary to provide solutions to ensure in this case an electrical power connection between the submarine cable device 1 and the electrical equipment 110 on board the ship. A first solution consists in installing a second complementary connector, such as a connector 101 comprising a hollow sphere portion, at the bow of the ship. If the transfer arm of the system according to the invention is movable along the platform as in the embodiments in connection with FIGS. 6 to 10, it is then possible to be able to use the same system without any other modification than the addition of a second complementary connector on the ship. However, this solution is penalizing in terms of cost and space necessary for the routing of the cables inside the ship. In addition, the installation of a second connector at the bow of the ship also poses additional congestion problems.

A second solution then consists, in principle, in using a single connector or complementary connection assembly to the bow of the ship, and in modifying the underwater cable device 1 and the means that are adapted to connect this device 1 to at least one transfer arm of the system so that there is always such a transfer arm suitably arranged to establish a connection state with said complementary connector. For this, it is usually best to extend the device 1 of submarine cable to the opposite end of the wharf, that is to say to the right in the figures which represent the wharf seen from above. It will generally be sought to pass the cable device 1 under the platform by fixing it to the structure that supports the platform, but it is also possible in certain cases to maintain a portion of the cable at the bottom of the sea to pass under the cable. location of ships.

A first way to implement this second solution is to duplicate the transfer arm and the means that connect it to the device 1. This would nonetheless involve a substantial increase in the cost of the energy transfer system according to the invention, because of duplication of many of the elements of the system.

A second way to implement this second solution is to use the same transfer arm in the two configurations that correspond to the two possible directions of docking the ship. This method is particularly suitable for embodiments in which the transfer arm is carried by a barge, since the barge with possibly a portion of submerged cable can move from one end to the other of the wharf bypassing the vessel . Similarly, if the transfer arm is carried by the bow of the ship as shown below, it is relatively simple to duplicate a cable portion of the submarine cable device 1 so that the same arm can be connected to the device 1 in each of the two configurations. If on the other hand the transfer arm is carried by a support on the dock, the transport of the arm with or without its support would pose many problems. Figures 11 and 12 schematically show an embodiment of this second solution. FIG. 12 is an enlargement of the left part of FIG. 11. The fixed part 10 of the submarine cable device 1 passes under the dock 50 and ends in a first movable portion 11 that is vertically flexible, these parts 10 and 11 being here made of the same layer of cables. On the left of each of FIGS. 11 and 12, the sheet of cables coming from the undersea interface 200 (not shown) is interrupted by an underwater connector 145 which allows an electrical derivation of the sheet to another first movable part 11 " Each first movable portion 11 or 11 "vertically flexible is electrically connected to a connection assembly 6 which is here pivoting, called second connection assembly in what follows since the barge 30 is equipped with a first pivoting connection assembly 5 similar to that in connection with Figures 5, 13 and 18.

This second pivoting connection assembly 6 comprises an intermediate transfer arm 23 carried by a small boat 131 and provided with a spherical head 9 for a power connection type pivoting swivel type. A detailed three-dimensional view of this pivoting connection assembly 6 is visible in FIG. 21. The spherical head 9 is adapted to be electrically connected to a complementary power connector 103 mounted on a floating pontoon 32 which is associated with means for guidance in the vertical direction. These guide means 34 here comprise two pillars 34A and 34B which are kept vertical parallel to each other. These two pillars constitute both lateral and longitudinal abutments for the pontoon 32 floating and prohibit any substantial movement other than a vertical movement. They are therefore adapted to allow the pontoon 32 to follow the tide.

The complementary connector 103 is electrically connected to the sheet forming said other first movable portion 11 "vertically flexible underwater cable device 1 by means of busbars insulated from each other and with respect to the air, a submerged connector allowing to connect these bars to the tablecloth.

On the small boat 131, the intermediate arm 23 is connected to a second movable portion 12 of the underwater power cable device 1 via a pivoting electrical connection. This second movable portion 12 is constituted by a cable ply having a substantially vertical ply plane so that the ply is flexible in a horizontal plane. The structure of this sheet may be identical to that of the other sheets forming the first movable parts 11 and 11. Floats 15 may be distributed over the sheet so that it remains immersed between two waters.Threads may connect these floats together. to support on their own possible traction at one end of the sheet, for example if the barge 30 must tow the small boat 131 by pulling on the sheet.

The pivoting electrical connection between the ply of the movable portion 12 and the intermediate arm 23 comprises a frustoconical male electrical connector 6A which is connected to the ply via a plunger arm 51 'terminating in a submerged connector 55. 6A male connector is adapted to be inserted into a female connector 6B which has a frustoconical cavity formed in a portion 32B of the arm 23. The embodiment of this pivotal electrical connection is similar to that in connection with Figure 15, the pivoting of the male connector in the female connector on a single axis A1. The intermediate arm 23 forms a substantially L, and the portion 32B corresponding to the shortest branch of the L is pivotally mounted on the small boat 131 along a substantially horizontal axis. Thus, the longest branch 23A which supports the connector 9 is vertically orientable.

The electrical connection of the second movable part 12 to the barge 30 is effected by means of another submerged connector 55, as shown in FIG. 18. In order to provide a non-explosive atmosphere around the pivoting electrical connections 9, 103 6A and 6B of the second connection assembly 6 and around the connections of the first pivoting connection assembly 5, a first solution is to use the same source of inert gas from the ship. Non-explosive gas is supplied from the vessel to the first pivoting connection assembly 5 through a plurality of lines 87, 87 'and 87 "visible in Figures 20 and 15 and running through the transfer arm 21. The second mobile part 12 of the submarine cable device 1 can then comprise along its length a flexible pipe connected to the second pivoting connection assembly 6 to bring this inert gas from the pipe 87 ". But it is also possible to dispense with such a flexible pipe and bring inert gas into the second connection assembly 6 from a tank 35 of non-explosive gas installed on the floating pontoon 32 and arranged to be able to communicate with the portion of hollow sphere of the connector 103 of this second connection assembly 6. The second mobile part 12 of the device 1 is transportable with the barge 30 and the small boat 131, without the need to disconnect the male connector 6A of the female connector 6B. The moving assembly can be brought to one end or the other of the dock in the direction of docking of the ship, to connect on the one hand to a connector 103 on a floating pontoon 32 and secondly to the connector 101 of the ship. In the right-hand part of FIG. 11, the moving assembly is in the process of positioning itself to perform this double connection. The barge 30 and the small boat 131 are each motorized, and their propellers are preferably careened so that the sheet forming the second movable portion 12 can pass under these boats without the risk of being damaged by a propeller. Once the double connection is made, the boats 131 and 30 are respectively connected to the pontoon 32 and the ship 100 by ropes and / or gaffs 62 to limit as far as possible the amplitude of their horizontal movements.

Fig. 13 schematically shows an embodiment of a first pivotal connection assembly 5 installed on a barge 30 as shown in Fig. 18. This connection assembly 5 is disposed out of the water within a body spherical 44 which forms the lower end of the transfer arm 21, this spherical body providing a function of mechanical ball 4 being adapted to pivot in a support 40 of ball joint mounted on the barge 30. This pivoting can be effected by means of bearings 39, or by simply lubricating the surfaces of the spherical body 44 and its support. This support 40 has a hole 41 adapted to be traversed by a plunger arm 51 which encloses power electrical conductors and passes through a well formed in the hull of the barge to be able to have a submerged end sealingly connected to the device 1 of cable under -marine. An airtight seal 144 surrounds the spherical body 44 and prevents air from escaping from the well of the barge, thereby preventing water from rising. An emerging end of the plunger arm 51 is connected to the transfer arm 21 via the first connection assembly 5 which here comprises contact fingers in the form of grippers 42 associated with angular sectors of discs 43, each disc being electrically connected to a power conductor 3A, 3B or 3C in the transfer arm 21. The clamps 42 are electrically connected to the power conductors of the plunger arm 51, and form a swivel connector along a single axis A. Figures 14 and 15 schematically represent another embodiment of a pivoting connector along a single axis. This pivoting connector 5'A is a male connector of substantially frustoconical shape whose axis of symmetry coincides with the single axis of the pivoting and which is adapted to pivot in a female connector 5'B mounted on the lower end of the arm 21. This female connector 5'B has a recess of substantially the same frustoconical shape adapted to receive the male connector. The male connector here comprises an assembly 16 of three first contact elements 161, 162, and 163 constituted by metal rings with a frustoconical surface and each corresponding to a conductor respectively 3A, 3B and 3C. The recess of the female connector 5'B defines an inner wall on the surface of which are disposed three second contact elements 171, 172 and 173 constituted by strips with contact lamellae and each adapted to cooperate with a first contact element 161 , 162, or 163. The power conductors 3A ₁ 3B and 3C in the transfer arm 21 consist for example of sheathed bars. They are each connected to a second contact element 171, 172 or 173 via a withdrawable connector such as 183.

The male connector 5'A is extended along its axis of symmetry A by a rod 52 'adapted to be able to pass through a hole formed at the bottom of the recess of the female connector 5'B to emerge outside the female connector. This rod 52 'is adapted to receive clamping means 53 arranged to allow maintenance of contact pressure of the male connector in the female connector. Rolling means 54 or sliding are further interposed between the clamping means 53 and the spherical body 44 of the female connector 5'B for. allow the. pivoting of the male connector along its axis of symmetry A.

FIG. 16 schematically represents a view in longitudinal section of a male connector 5 "A analogous to the male connector 5'A previous. The first contact elements in the form of annular metal surfaces are here four in number to allow the transfer of a three-phase current with a neutral. The insulating body of the plunger arm 51 further has a crenellated surface between two adjacent contact elements, so as to lengthen the creepage distance between the contact surfaces to avoid arc ignition between phases. The rod 52 "which extends the frustoconical part of the connector is provided at its end with an optionally removable anti-friction element in the form of a mushroom, comprising resilient lamellae to dampen any shocks, in order to avoid damaging the second elements of contact of the female connector if the male connector moves laterally during the connection.

FIG. 17 schematically represents a sectional view of the support 40 traversed by the plunger arm 51, in the horizontal plane P shown in dashed lines in FIG. 18. The hole 41 of the support is oblong in the longitudinal direction of the barge 30, in order to to favor the amplitude of angular displacement of the arm 21 in the vertical direction.

In FIG. 18, the plunger arm 51 is sealingly connected to a ply 2 oriented with a vertical ply plane so that it can be bent horizontally. The transfer arm 21 is connected by ball joints 88 to the ends of the rods of cylinders 86. Accessorily, a repository 89 allows the arm 21 to be in a so-called rest position, for example during the navigation of the barge, a position in which the jacks 86 are inactive. The assembly 19 of sliding contacts comprises contact fingers such as 191 and 192 attached to the lower busbars of the arm and in electrical contact with the upper busbars of the arm. These are connected to the conductive surfaces of the power connector 8, as referenced 81 and 84 in Figure 19. The sliding movement of the telescopic portion of the arm 21 is provided for example by jacks 86 '. FIG. 19 has already been commented on with respect to the connection state of a power transfer system according to the invention shown in FIG. 57. It may be added that the electromagnet 105 is disposed along the axis of revolution. of the complementary power connector 101 disposed on the 100. A spherical cap portion of ferromagnetic material, not shown, is disposed at the front end of the spherical head 8 in order to be very close and facing an electromagnet pole 105 in the connection state of the system. Thus, the looping of the magnetic field makes it possible to produce an electromagnetic attraction force on the spherical head 8 and to ensure the necessary contact pressure. The telescopic portion of the arm 21 is provided with a cap 85 in a sphere portion provided to flush with the flared circular opening 101A of the connector 101 in the connection state. Thus, irrespective of the angular position of the arm 21 with respect to the axis of revolution of the connector 101, this cap 85 makes it possible to protect the interior space of the connector 101, for example spray or birds.

Figure 20 schematically shows the connection position of the power connectors 8 and 101 which realizes the connection state of the energy transfer system. In particular, there is shown channels for circulating an inert gas such as nitrogen from cryogenic tanks of liquid nitrogen on the ship, for inerting electrical connections of the system. First channels 107 allow inert gas to be blown into the interstitial space 104 between the front of the spherical head of the power connector 8 and the wall of the complementary connector 101. At least one gasket 108 is provided to prevent this interstitial space communicates with the air of the interior space of the connector 101. Thus, the connections made in this interstitial space 104 are in an inert atmosphere with circulating gas. Second channels 87 allow the inert gas to flow into the telescopic upper part of the transfer arm 21 to provide an inert atmosphere around the assembly 19 of sliding contacts. The circulation of inert gas continues in the lower part of the transfer arm 21 by third channels 87 'which allow the inert gas to be brought to the level of the electrical connections of the first connection assembly 5 or 5' as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 21 has already been commented on with respect to the second pivoting connection assembly 6 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. that the vertical orientation of the branch 23A of the intermediate arm 23 is provided by a jack 23C acting on a substantially vertical rod which supports this branch. The shorter branch 23B has the shape of a cylinder and is pivotable on a support having a semi-cylindrical hollow provided with rolling or sliding means 38. Thus, the plunger arm 5V can not only pivot along the axis A1 of revolution of the male connector 6A, but can also rotate in a vertical plane with the same angular deflection as that of the intermediate arm 23. This pivoting of the plunger arm 51 'in a vertical plane can be prevented by the immobilization of the intermediate arm 23 for example by blocking the cylinder 23C.

However, the traction exerted by the second mobile part 12 of the cable device 1 on the plunger arm 51 'as well as the pressure of the water on this arm, in particular during the transport of the sheet of cables forming this part 12 by the barge 30 and the boat 131, may break this arm or produce too much stress by a lever effect that affects the connectors 6A and 6B. To remedy this, it is possible to provide a hydrodynamic deflector assembly 33 provided with a pivoting arm 33A whose pivoting end is provided with a lug 33E adapted to be inserted into a fastening element 33F fixed at the level of a bend that forms the plunger arm 51 '. The pivoting arm 33A is actuated for example by a long rod 33B connected to a jack 33C. It is thus possible to lock the plunger 51 'after positioning it with the axis A1 substantially vertical, while allowing a rotation of this arm of the order of 300 ° around the axis A1 to allow a large angular amplitude of pivoting of the second movable portion 12 under the boat 131.

The small boat 131 is preferably equipped with a cabin 131F allowing an operator to make an approach maneuver floating pontoon 32 by adjusting the height of the spherical head 9 to allow its introduction into the complementary power connector 103. Prior to this connection, a cover 32C for protecting the flared circular opening of the connector 103 is pivoted to disengage this opening. In the previous embodiment with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the second pivoting connection assembly 6 uses elements similar to those used at the barge 30 and in particular male and female swivel connector assemblies of types frustoconical and spherical ball. Such an electric energy transfer system according to the invention has the advantage of requiring only one second movable part 12 and thus makes it possible to limit the total length of cable ply, but this advantage is generally mitigated by the investment required for level of the second connection assembly 6. It may be advantageous in terms of cost to duplicate the second movable portion 12 of the underwater power cable device 1 and to maintain each second portion 12 and 12 "electrically permanently connected to an upper end of a first movable portion respectively 11 and 11 "of the device 1, as visible in Figure 50. A first embodiment of an embodiment with two seconds movable portion 12 and 12" is shown schematically on the Figure 22. Only a second portion 12 "of the device 1 is shown on a first half dock. This second portion 12 "is electrically permanently connected to the upper end of a first movable portion 11" of the device 1, via a second connection assembly 7 pivoting. On the second half of non-visible platform, the other second portion 12 is connected in a similar manner to a first movable portion 11 of the device 1 via another second connection assembly 7 pivoting. The transfer arm 22 on the barge 31 performs the same function as the arm 21 previously described and visible in FIG. 18, but its lower structure is inspired by the solution in connection with FIG. 21. Thus, the barge 31 does not exhibit wells like the previous 30 barge.

The second pivotal connection assembly 7 is shown in detail in Figure 25. It comprises a pivotable electrical connection along a single axis substantially vertical A3, comprising a male connector 7A frustoconical _^ type and a female connector 7B. The contact elements are not shown, but are similar to those previously described for the first pivoting connection assembly 5. More specifically, the 7A and 7B connectors are identical to the respective connectors 7'A and 7'B shown in Figures 33 and 38. The maintenance of the contact pressure is likewise ensured by means of clamping screws which pass through a pivoting collar around the male connector and are adapted to be screwed into the female connector. Rolling means 54 'are interposed between this flange and a circular radial shoulder of the male connector, in order to allow pivoting of the male connector.

This second pivoting connection assembly 7 comprises flotation means 7E adapted to maintain the pivotal electrical connection constituted by the connectors 7A and 7B out of the water. It further comprises sliding means 7F adapted to allow it to follow the tide by sliding along guide means 14 in the vertical direction which consist of a weighted vertical cable or a vertical bar, as shown in Figure 30. The upper end of the sheet forming the first moving part

11 "of the cable device 1 is electrically connected to the female connector 7B by means of a submerged connector connected to insulated conductors, not shown, enclosed in a rod-shaped arm 7D.The sheet forming the second part movable horizontally 12 "is electrically connected to the male connector 7A through another submerged connector 55 connected to insulated conductors, not shown, enclosed in a vertical arm 7C whose upper end leads to the connector 7A. The height of this vertical arm 7C is provided sufficient for the sheet 12 "remains permanently immersed, and the pivoting electrical connection made by the connectors 7A and 7B remains emerged so as not to have a problem of tightness and risk of damage. infiltration of water at the level of the contacts.

In case of traction on the sheet 12 ", and in order to avoid excessive stress by a lever effect on the vertical arm 7C which affects the connectors 7A and 7B, the submerged connector 55 can be pivotally mounted according to the A3 axis at its base being held by a 7G arm which comprises a sealed bearing 7H. Continuing the description of FIG. 22, it may be noted that the second portion 12 "has a termination connected to a floating assembly 13 sliding along guide means 14 'in the vertical direction which consist of a weighted vertical cable or a vertical bar, as shown in Figure 30.

This floating assembly 13 is shown in detail in FIGS. 23 b) and 24. It incorporates a male connector 5 "A, and is arranged around the unrepresented phase and neutral conductors which are enclosed in a vertical arm 13C and realize the electrical connection between the male connector and a submerged connector 55 connected to the second mobile part 12 "of the submarine cable device 1. The floating assembly 13 comprises a first float 13A on which are fixed detachable sliding means 13B adapted to cooperate with vertical guide means 14 'to enable it to follow the tide. Other detachable sliding means may be provided lower on the vertical arm 13C, for example at a second float 55 'or the submerged connector 55, if it is necessary to better stabilize vertically the floating assembly 13 .

The male connector 5 "A is surrounded at its base by a lower protective cover 13D fixed to the connector coaxially, this fixed cover being sealed by a removable protective cover 13E shown in Figure 23a). 13E removable cover is installed, the 5 "A connector is protected from spray or other external aggressions. As described below, this cover 13E can be opened in two parts connected by a hinge 13F, to easily remove the cover to allow the introduction of the male connector 5 "A in a female connector 5" B electrically connected to the arm of Transfer 22 of the barge 31. The opening of the hood 13E is performed manually by pulling handles 13G to separate magnets or 13H clip systems.

Thus, once the floating assembly 13 connected to the transfer arm 22 of the barge 31 as shown in FIG. 26, the barge can move away from the edge of the wharf by taking with it the end of the second movable portion 12 of the cable device 1 which is connected to the first pivoting connection assembly 5 as shown in FIG. 22 in the position a). The flexibility of the ply 12 "in the horizontal plane of the figure, combined with the pivoting of the first and second connection assemblies 5" and 7, allows the barge 31 to approach the stern of the ship as shown in position b) while having a radius of curvature of the sheet which remains large enough not to risk exceeding the limit of bending allowed for this sheet. The possible amplitude D 1 for positioning the power connector 8 in the direction of the ship is much greater than the length D 2 of the ply 12 ", and can reach substantially twice this length D 2 if necessary, it is therefore advantageous to limit the length D2 of the 12 "web at about half the distance between the respective sterns of the longest qualifying vessel and the shortest qualifying vessel.

FIG. 24 diagrammatically represents the positioning of the barge 31 with respect to the floating assembly 13 in order to be able to connect the male connector 5 "disposed at the top of this assembly to the female connector 5" B electrically connected to the transfer arm 22. L In principle, the architecture of the transfer arm 22 is close to that of the intermediate transfer arm 23 with commentary in relation to FIG. 21. The transfer arm 22 is here maintained on the barge in a locking position for which the axis of the The female connector 5 "B is substantially vertical The floating assembly 13 is slidably attached to the vertical guide bar or cable 14 'as in FIG 23 b), this vertical guide means 14' being shown interrupted on the FIG. 24 so as not to mask the assembly 13. The vertical arm 13C of this floating assembly comprises variable flotation means 56 which are integral in movement with the assembly 13 to effect a e translation upwards by increasing by inflating means the buoyancy of the assembly 13. The variable flotation means 56 consist for example of an inflatable buoy mounted coaxially around the vertical arm 13C, and the inflation means may include a pipe system 57 communicating with the buoy 56 and having a dual valve selector valve device. These variable flotation means 56 are not however indispensable, and it is possible to envisage lifting means which would for example push up the sliding means 13B to perform the translation of the assembly 13.

In the state prior to the connection of the two connectors of the first connection assembly 5 ", represented in FIG. 24, the buoy 56 is deflated and the double-valve selector valve of the system 57 floats on the surface of the water. of approach guidance in the form of forks 31 G1 and 31G2, visible from above in Figures 27 and 28, are arranged on the barge 31 and adapted to cooperate with the vertical guide means 14 'and with means of stop 64 arranged parallel to the vertical guide means 14 ', to allow the positioning of the barge 31 in an abutment position where said male connector 5 "A of the first connection assembly 5" is disposed under the female connector 5 "B . The stop means 64 may be identical to the weighted cable or to the vertical bar 14 '. The partial view in FIG. 28 corresponds to the stop position of the barge 31. The vertical guide means 14 'also serve as abutment means for the approach guide fork 31 G1. The two forks 31 G1 and 31 G2 each have views from above of a flared U shape.

The barge 31 here comprises a bottom 31 C ballast, and a ballast compartment 31 E. The ballast is empty, and the waterline on the barge is at its lowest. The floatation of the assembly 13 is provided such that the removable protective cover 13E of the male connector 5 "A does not hit the body of the female connector 5" B during the arrival of the barge. The barge comprises a step 31J close to the cover 13E so that an operator can remove the cover once the barge stopped in its stop position. Then, this operator connects the double valve selector valve device of the system 57 to the outlet of an inflator 58 on the barge, and inflates the buoy 56. In parallel, the ballasts of the compartment 31 E can be filled so to gradually lower the barge relative to the hO level of the sea.

The upward translation movement of the male connector 5 "A along its axis of symmetry A2 relative to the female connector 5" B makes it possible to reach the connection state shown in FIG. sliding means 13B is detached by the operator who then accesses above the female connector 5 "B to install clamping means such as a nut secured by a pin and intended to be screwed onto the threaded rod which extends the These means are designed to allow the male connector to be pressurized in the female connector while allowing the male connector to pivot along its axis of symmetry A2 at least during the movement of the barge towards the ship. rolling or rolling means 54, such as a ball bearing, are interposed between a washer placed under the nut and another washer disposed around the upper opening of the female connector 5'B.

The operator then releases the barge from its stop position and controls the faired propeller 31 D forward to move the barge as shown in Fig. 29 and Fig. 22 in position a). Once the barge has reached the position b) in FIG. 22, the orientation maneuver of the transfer arm 22 to lead to the connection of the power connector 8 with the complementary connector 101 on the ship remains similar in principle to what has been described previously. The arm 22 is functionally similar to the arm 21 described in connection with FIGS. 18 and 19. The mechanical swivel function 4 previously provided is here ensured by the freedom for the arm 22 to pivot along two perpendicular X and Z axes visible on the FIG. 24. The vertical axis Z of pivoting of the transfer arm is also visible in FIG. 43 which represents the same barge 31 and a transfer arm 22 'for which the entire lower part is identical to that of the arm 22. The most short branch 22B of the L that forms the arm 22 is substantially cylindrical and is pivotally mounted along the substantially horizontal axis X of the cylinder on a first support 31A which is itself pivotally mounted along the substantially vertical axis Z on a second support 31 B fixed to the barge 31. Rolling means 37 and 38 are provided to allow these pivoting.

The axis of view V of the main branch 22A of the transfer arm 22 is thus vertically adjustable as well as in azimuth by acting on one hand on a jack 86 and on the other hand on a gear wheel 129 adapted to drive in rotation the first support 31A as shown in Figure 43. This main branch 22A comprises a telescopic portion identical to that of the arm 21 previous. The vertical angular deflection amplitude of the axis V is preferably of the order of 10 to 30 degrees, in order to limit the twisting of the ply 12 when the floating assembly 13 deviates from its vertical position to follow the pivoting. of the female connector 5'B. The amplitude of azimuthal angular deflection is also preferably of the order of 10 to 30 degrees, since the rotational displacement of the floating assembly 13 about the Z axis must be limited so as not to be hindered by the hull of the barge or by the footstep 31 J.

The barge 31 is seen from above in FIG. 27, in a reverse approach phase of the stop means 64 and 14 'respectively by the two approach guide forks 31 G1 and 31 G2. At least one fork is associated with a locking element 31 K for locking an abutment means 64 or 14 'in the bottom of the fork once the barge 31 is in abutment as shown in FIG. 28.

The vertical guide and abutment means 14 'here consist of a vertical bar which has an upper end fixed to the platform and a lower end held fixed by a system 63 of beams fixed to a pillar of the platform, as can also be seen in FIG. The stop means 64 are similar and are positioned so that the distance between them and the abutment means 14 'corresponds to the distance between the respective bottoms of the two forks 31 G1 and 31 G2. Moreover, on the same side as the branch 22B of the transfer arm, the hull of the barge 31 is completed by a hydrodynamic deflector 31 H, the shape of which is better visible in FIG. 43, and whose function is similar to that of the deflector 33 of the boat device 131 discussed above with reference to FIG. 21.

As can be seen in FIG. 43, a pivoting arm 33 'is disposed at the rear of a hydrodynamic deflector 31 H. This arm 33' is similar to the pivoting arm 33A of the boat device 131, and is adapted to be inserted into a fastening element fixed under the submerged connector 55. It is thus possible to lock the lower end of the floating assembly 13 after have connected this assembly to the transfer arm 22 or 22 ', while allowing a rotation of this assembly 13 of the order of 300 ° around its substantially vertical axis A2. This allows the transport of the sheet constituting the second mobile part 12 by limiting the mechanical stresses exerted on the first connection assembly 5 "due to the hydrodynamic resistance of this movable part 12, while maintaining a large angular amplitude of pivoting of this tablecloth 12 under the barge 31.

Figure 30 schematically shows in a vertical plane the different parts of the underwater power cable device as well as the different connecting elements used in the embodiment shown in Figure 22. The first and second movable parts 11 "and 12 "of the submarine cable device shown in the figure are those dedicated to the connection with a ship that docked with its bow pointing to the left of the figure. The other movable parts 11 and 12 of the cable device are not visible because they extend the fixed part of the device far after the fixed cable part 10 to the left of the underwater connector 145 in the figure. The fixed portion 10 of cable to the right of the figure extends along the wharf and may possibly go back on a gentle slope if the interface 200 which connects this layer 10 of submarine cables to the underground cables connected to the electrical installation of the terminal is at a shallow depth of immersion.

The first and second movable portions 11 "and 12" are shown here in two positions a) and b) respectively corresponding to a relatively high tide level and a low level. Two dotted horizontal lines corresponding to the extreme levels of the sea define the maximum amplitude HM of the tide. Since the second pivoting connection assembly 7 and the floating assembly 13 are adapted to float along the vertical guide means 14 and 14 'respectively, the second movable portion 12 "remains substantially horizontal regardless of the level hO of the Immersed floats are provided to virtually cancel by their buoyancy pressure the pulling effect on the ends of this portion 12 "due to the weight of the web. At least one 15 "float emerged on the surface of the water is here provided to assist the floats 15, and to allow to visualize the position of this sheet 12 "by looking at the surface of the water from the barge during transport of the sheet.

The first movable part 11 "is itself flexible in the vertical plane of the figure, other floats 15 have a suitable volume and are distributed along the sheet which constitutes this part 11" so as to virtually cancel the stresses due to the weight of the sheet, which allows the radius of curvature of the sheet remains large enough not to risk exceeding the limit of flexion allowed for this sheet. FIG. 31 schematically represents a view from above of the energy transfer system according to the invention in connection with FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The support assembly 65 comprises rails 93 substantially parallel to the horizontal portion 24A of the arm of FIG. transfer 24, this arm 24 being suspended from a carriage 92 adapted to be displaced in translation on the rails 93 by a motor 90. An operator installed in the control station 95 can control the actuation of the motor 90 as well as that of a motor. cylinder 72 for pivoting the arm 24 as indicated by the arrow in a circular arc.

Figure 32 schematically shows an exploded top view of the moving parts of the device. Part b) comprising the conveyor device 46 is movable only horizontally along the horizontal guide means 61 on the platform. The structure referenced 71 which carries the vertical guide means 70 also carries a scale 96 so that an operator can pass from the platform to the control station 95. The part c), vertically movable relative to the part b), can be installed in the latter being carried by a crane so as to introduce into the rails 70 the wheels 76 of the elevator member 66, and the first movable portion 11 of the cable device is then connected to the arm 24.

Part (a) of Figure 33 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of the connection of the first movable portion 11 of the cable device to the male portion 7'A of the pivotal connection assembly T visible in Figures 37 and 38. This substantially frustoconical male portion 7'A forms the upper end of a plunger arm 7'C connected to the submerged connector 55. The height of this plunger 7'C is provided sufficient to allow some relative displacement of the hO level of the sea without having to raise or lower too frequently the elevator member 66 which indirectly supports the plunger arm to avoid a setting in the air of the web 2 or immersion of the connection assembly T. Thus, the lifting means of the elevator member 66 can be actuated only by periods to correct the vertical position of the transfer arm 24 according to the tide and / or ballasting of the vessel.

Part (b) of FIG. 33 schematically represents a three-dimensional view of the female connector 7'B of the pivoting connection assembly T. This connector 7'B is connected to the base of the substantially vertical portion 24C of the transfer arm 24 via an assembly 18 of removable connectors, ^'sealed to the air. The possible relative pivoting between the male and female connectors is preferably greater than or equal to 90 °.

FIG. 34 schematically represents the energy transfer system in connection with FIG. 31, once the state of connection of the system has been established thanks to the connection of the power connector 8 with the complementary connector 101. From the position of the arm of FIG. transfer 24 visible in Figure 31, the connection state is obtained by a translation of the arm 24 caused by the translational movement of the carriage 92. In order to adjust the position of the power connector 8 during the preparation phase to the introduction into the complementary connector 101, an operator can correct the azimuth of the arm 24 and the height of the connector 8 by acting respectively on the cylinder 72 and on another cylinder 94 which allows the arm 24 to pivot in a vertical plane around a bar 73 as visible in FIGS. 36 and 37. Once the connection is established, these two jacks are deactivated and the carriage 92 for supporting the arm 24 is disengaged relative to to the motor 90 to be free in translation on the rails 93 which support this carriage. Thus, the connector 8 is free to follow to a certain extent the movement of the complementary connector 101 which corresponds to the relative movement of the ship relative to the dock. The relative movement of the ship docked at the wharf is generally in the range of one to two meters in a horizontal plane, and may be much larger in the vertical direction depending on the tide. The length of the portion 24A of the arm 24 depends on the configuration of the dock and the positioning of the complementary connector 101 on the ship, but it can be considered that it will generally be between five and ten meters. The pivoting of the arm 24 in a vertical plane around a bar 73 is provided here only on an angular displacement amplitude of the order of 5 to 20 degrees, and is therefore generally not sufficient to allow the connector to power 8 to freely follow the movement of the complementary connector 101 during a change in sea level that exceeds two to three meters. Thus, in the case of a tide typically exceeding two to three meters, it is generally necessary to raise or lower at least once the elevator member 66 for the duration of the connection state of the energy transfer system. to restore a substantially horizontal position for the portion 24A of the arm 24.

FIG. 35 schematically represents the energy transfer system in relation to the preceding figure, in a storage position of the transfer arm which has been commented on in the description of FIG. 9.

FIG. 36 diagrammatically shows in detail a partial view of the energy transfer system in the position shown in FIG. 31. The arm 24 is here in a retracted position which corresponds to the recoil of the carriage 92 until it comes to a stop substantially at one end of the rails 93. In this retracted position, the substantially vertical portion 24C of the transfer arm 24 is here approximately coaxial with the vertical axis A4 of the pivoting means 67 of the support assembly 65. The carriage 92 comprises a bar 73 pivoting disposed perpendicularly to the rails 93, this bar being associated with a set 77 of beams such as 77A and 77B which carries the transfer arm 24 to allow this arm a certain degrade pivot in a vertical plane. The jack 94 is integral in motion with the carriage 92 and has a rod connected to the beam 77A to control a certain pivoting of the assembly 77 of beams and therefore of the transfer arm 24 in a vertical plane. This makes it possible to adjust the elevation of the power connector 8 during a quick connection operation to the complementary connector 101 on the ship.

Optionally, this jack 94 may be equipped with a position sensor of its rod, which in fact measures the positional deviation with respect to the position corresponding to the horizontality of the portion 24A of the transfer arm 24. This sensor is associated with a two-threshold comparator adapted to transmit a command to the lifting means 68. During the connection state of the transfer system, the cylinder 94 is deactivated so as to allow free movement of its rod. If the positive or negative positional deviation of this rod exceeds one of the two thresholds, a command is sent to the lifting means 68 in order to raise or lower the elevator member 66 by a predefined height in order to bring the part 24A.

A traction cable 69 connects the lifting means 68 to the elevator member 66 and passes through a pulley 98 mounted on the top of the vertical structure 71. Another pulling cable 91 connects the motor shaft 90 to the carriage 92 by passing by two pulleys 98 '.

Figure 37 schematically shows in detail a partial view of the energy transfer system of the previous figure, in a position corresponding to the end of the translation of the power connector 8 to the complementary connector on the ship. The transfer arm 24 is dimensioned so that the difference in height between the power connector 8 and the pivoting connection assembly T corresponds to the average height of the connector 101 of the ship relative to the sea level. it is preferable that all ships intended to be connected to the transfer arm 24 have the same standardized height of the connector 101 relative to the average waterline of the ship. Otherwise, it is possible to extend the portion 24C of the arm 24 and to have a pivoting connection assembly T waterproof, or to leave permanently above the water set T and increase the height of the plunger arm 7'C. ^"~

The carriage 92 which supports the set of beams 77 is pulled forward of the rails 93 by the control of the motor 90 to exert traction on the cable 91 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Because the substantially vertical portion 24C of the transfer arm 24 is connected to the submerged connector 55 via the pivotal connection assembly 7 ', the cable web 2 forming the movable portion 11 of the submarine cable device away from the dock with the arm 24 as shown in Fig. 34. Additionally, optionally, a laser transmitter system 119 may be installed on the support assembly 65 so as to aim at a not shown pattern installed next to the connector. 101 of the ship.

FIG. 38 schematically shows in detail a partial view of the pivotal connection assembly 7 'already described in connection with FIG. 33.

Figure 39 shows schematically a partial three-dimensional view of the structure of the web 2 already described in connection with Figures 2b and 2c.

Figure 40 schematically shows the energy transfer system according to the invention in connection with Figures 8, 9 and 10, over its entire height and submerged, seen from the sea facing the dock. Four positions a), b), c) and d) of the system are shown.

The position a) corresponds to an intermediate pivoting phase of the arm 24 between the two positions shown respectively in FIGS. 9 and 10. The conveyor 46 is brought here almost to the end of the rail 61 on the left in FIG. 40, and the web 2 which constitutes both the movable part 11 and the fixed part 10 is close to its maximum extension as a function of the minimum allowed radius of curvature. The arm 24 is pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the dock to aim the connector 101 of the ship. Sea level for position a) is the hO level represented. Preferably, a rope connects the control station 95 to the float 15 located highest on the web 2. Thus, when the support assembly 65 is raised to pivot the arm 24 in its storage position as shown in position c) this rope supports most of the weight of the emerging part of the web and the radius of curvature of the web may remain above the minimum allowed. Position b) corresponds to an intermediate phase of pivoting arm 24 similar to that shown in position a), but at a time when the sea level is the lowest possible level h1.

Positions c) and d) are also represented at a time when the sea level is the lowest possible level h1. At position c), the support assembly 65 is held up and the arm 24 is arranged in its storage position. A translation of the conveyor 46 towards the end of the rail 61 on the right in the figure makes it possible to bring the power connector 8 carried by the transfer arm 24 opposite a raised maintenance station 79 placed on the platform 50. Advantageously, maintenance platforms 99 and 99 'can be fixed to the platform to enable an operator to come and check the state of the upper end of the sheet 2 and the pivoting connection assembly T.

Preferably, a slide 75 attached to the pillars 74 of the platform 50 is disposed a few meters under the platform of the platform and is adapted to allow the structure 71 to remain vertical while exerting a bearing on this slide.

Figure 41 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the slide 75 completed by the projection of other elements in the plane of section. An arm 48 parallel to the slide 75 is attached to the vertical structure 71 and has a wheel 49 provided to exert a certain support on the slide particularly when the transfer arm

24 is not perpendicular to the wharf. Such an arm 48 is also visible in FIG. 40, and could be completed by a second symmetrical arm. A part 47 is fixed to the structure 71 and comprises a wheel which is normally in permanent support against the slide 75.

FIG. 42 has been described previously with reference to FIG.

FIG. 43 diagrammatically represents a barge 31 identical to that of FIGS. 22, 24 and 27, but which carries a transfer arm 22 'whose upper part is different from the arm 22 described above, the upper part 22'A of this arm 22 is not telescopic, and has a curvature such that the axis of revolution of the power connector 8 is substantially horizontal. It is understood that the complementary connector 101 not shown, disposed at the stern of the ship 100, also has a substantially horizontal axis of revolution. When the barge 31 approaches the stern of the ship, a laser beam is emitted by a transmitter 119 to a target on the ship and allows the driver of the barge to adjust the approach direction. The transmitter 119 is mounted for example under the hood 85.

A system of two parallel horizontal arms 120, called buffer arms, makes it possible to stabilize the barge 31 resting against the hull at the stern of the ship, while the power connector 8 is substantially in front of the flared opening of the complementary connector 101. 123 ropes attached to the barge can be pulled from the ship to stabilize the barge 31. A buffer arm 120 comprises a buffer piece 121 for example rubber coated and mounted at the end of a rod actuated by a cylinder 122. If necessary , an actuation of the jack 86 and / or of a motor which drives the toothed wheel 129 makes it possible to correct the elevation and / or the azimuth of the power connector 8. Once the connector 8 is well positioned facing the opening of the complementary connector 101, the two cylinders 122 are released simultaneously to bring the barge two buffers 121, which has the effect of bringing the barge of the ship through the propeller of the barge or thanks to a traction exerted on the two strands 123. The connector 8 is thus introduced into the complementary connector 101. The contact pressure can be provided by strings 123 'pulled from the ship with a calibrated force and attached to a part 128 fixed on the upper portion 22'A of the arm 22 '. Figure 44 schematically shows a barge 31 identical to that of Figures 22, 24 and 27, but which carries a telescopic transfer arm 22, the upper portion 22A ends in two telescopic portions 22D each carrying a power connector 8. "Two connectors Complementary power 101 are then arranged at the stern of the ship and connected to the electrical equipment 110. on board the ship .. Each telescopic portion 22D comprises for example two electric power conductors electrically isolated from each other.The four power conductors of the party 22A are thus split into two pairs conductors respectively on the two telescopic portions 22D which are carried by a common portion 22C connected to the portion 22A. Preferably, a pivotal connector 22E along the V-axis allows the common portion 22C to pivot at a relatively small angle to allow some roll of the barge relative to the ship once the connection is made. Such a system with several 8 "power connectors makes it possible to increase the electrical power that passes through the transfer arm while limiting the diameter of the spherical heads forming these connectors.

FIG. 45 diagrammatically represents another embodiment of a energy transfer system according to the invention, in which a first transfer arm 125 is mounted substantially in a vertical position on the stern of the ship 100 and has an electrically superior part. connected to electrical equipment 110 on board the ship. This first arm 125, or main transfer arm, has a lower end formed by a power connector 5 "B, for example a female connector of complementary shape to a frustoconical male connector.This connector 5" B has a structure similar to that 5 "B connector mounted on the transfer arm 22 in the previous device shown in Figure 24, except that the bottom of the connector is here closed as for the analogous female connector 7'B described with particular reference to Figures 33 b) and 38. The connection assembly 5 "must be here of rapid type, and the connector 5" B therefore has no part adapted to receive screwing means to ensure the contact pressure because such means would prevent a rapid mutual disconnection of the male and female connectors The frustoconical male connector 5 "A is mounted on a floating assembly 13 'similar to the floating assembly 13 previously described particularly in relation to FIG. 24. This floating assembly 13 'does not here comprise variable flotation means, since the mutual connection of the male and female connectors 5 "A and 5" B is ensured by a downward translation of the main transfer arm. 125. The vertical arm 13'C._ of the floating assembly 13 'supports the male connector 5 "A which is complementary to the female connector 5" B carried by the first transfer arm 125. It electrically connects this male connector 5 "A at the connector immersed 55 connected to a second movable portion 12 of the cable device 1, and can be considered as a second transfer arm of the system according to the invention. The height of this second transfer arm 13'C is provided sufficient to accept a certain variation HB of the level hO of the ship's waterline, this variation being due to the difference in ballast of the ship as a function of the level of its tanks. liquefied natural gas. In the figure, the level hO of the waterline here corresponds to a ship at the quay with its full tanks. As the tanks are emptied, the vessel will rise above this hO level. The height of the second transfer arm 13'C is therefore provided so that the connector 55 and the sheet of cables forming the mobile part 12 remain immersed.

A support 126 adapted to receive the floating assembly 13 'is mounted on the hull 127 at the stern of the vessel, under the main transfer arm 125, and its hull attachment system 124 is provided adjustable in height so that this support 126 is positioned with its upper surface substantially at the water level before receiving the floating assembly 13 '. This support 126 consists for example of a U-shaped piece, the spacing between the two branches of the U being provided to allow the introduction of a float of the floating assembly 13 '. Advantageously, this floating assembly 13 'comprises a flange 13'A of diameter greater than the spacing of the U, this flange being able to pivot freely relative to the assembly.

A boat 132, shown in FIG. 50, makes it possible to move the second mobile part 12 of the submarine cable device to bring the floating assembly 13 'in front of the U-shaped support 126 and introduce this assembly between the two branches of the U. Advantageously, the flange 13'A comprises two diametrically opposed rounded lugs 136 adapted to be wedged in two holes 137 of the U-shaped support 126, so as to provide a stable position for the floating assembly 13 'in which the axes of the first and second transfer arms respectively 125 and 13'C coincide at least approximately. In this position shown in FIG. 46, the protective cover of the male connector has been removed, and the floating assembly 13 'is left free to pivot on itself so that the sheet 12 adopts naturally an orientation tending to minimize its bending in the horizontal plane. The main transfer arm 125 can be lowered to make the connection assembly 5. It is not necessary for the floating assembly 13 'to be pivotable on itself during the transfer of electricity. in FIG. 50, the ply 12 or 12 "already has a position tending to minimize its flexion.

The lowering of the transfer arm 125 by a translation along the arrow F1 is carried out for example by cylinders, and it is intended to maintain a constant thrust of the arm 125 downwards to ensure the necessary contact pressure in the cylinder. connection assembly 5. To make a quick disconnect at the end of the transfer of electricity, the boat 132 returns to the stern of the vessel to maintain the floating assembly 13 'while the arm 125 is reassembled. returns with the floating assembly 13 'and the sheet 12 or 12 "to store this assembly under the edge of the dock as shown in Figure 50. To perform a quick disconnect in case of emergency departure from the ship, we can provide a automatism which systematically raises the arm 125 seconds after the forward operation of the thruster assembly of the ship, of sufficient height to clear the assembly 13 'of its U-shaped support 126. The telescopic function of the the upper part of the main transfer arm 125 can be made by a slide sliding contact assembly such as the assembly 29 mentioned above. However, to limit the cost of such a system, it is also possible to achieve this telescopic function with flexible power cables. An exemplary embodiment of a telescopic electric system 29 'with flexible power cables 116 is shown schematically in FIGS. 47 and 48.

Figure 47 schematically shows the telescopic system 29 'in its raised state. Each fixed electrical conductor 115 connected on one side to the ship's equipment 110 is connected on the other hand to a cable. of. 116 flexible power disposed in a metal casing 118 carried by the hull 127 at the stern of the ship. The lower end of the cable 116 is connected to a sheathed conductive bar 3A contained in a box 117 adapted to slide inside the lower portion 118B of the metal casing 118 which forms the main transfer arm 125. The metal casing 118 is airtight to the terminal environment and is filled with a controlled atmosphere. The inner wall of the upper portion 118A of this envelope is covered with a layer of electrical insulating material to prevent arc ignition between a power cable 116 and this wall.

Figure 48 schematically shows the telescopic system 29 'in its lowered state. The casing 117 and the conductive bar 3A have been translated downward along the arrow F1 and the loop formed by the power cable 116 is at its maximum opening. It may be noted that when a power current flows through this loop, the electrodynamic forces tending to open the current loop make it possible to reinforce the downward thrust of the casing 117 and thus the contact pressure in the connection assembly 5 ". Four power cables 116 may be installed in parallel in the same envelope 118.

FIG. 49 schematically represents another embodiment of the second connection assembly which electrically connects a first movable portion 11 or 11 "vertically flexible of the underwater power cable device 1 and a second end of a second movable portion 12 or 12 "of the submarine cable device. The second connection assembly 146 shown here differs from the second connection assembly 7 previously described first in that it does not have pivotal connectors. Thus, the direction of a second movable portion 12 or 12 "from this connection assembly 146 remains substantially aligned with the horizontal projection direction of a first movable portion 11 or 11", as can be seen in FIG. Thus, the device requires more length of the cable 12 or 12 "of cables compared with the cable device visible in FIG. 22, to ensure the same maximum amplitude D1 of positioning of the first connection assembly. 146 being non-pivoting, it can be sealed with water without major difficulty and can thus be immersed, which avoids having to circulate an inert gas at the contacts.In Figure 49, it is visible that the connection box between the ply 11 and the ply 12 is permanently immersed at a distance from the hO level of the sea with a float bearing this housing and adapted to follow the tide along guide means 14 according to the vertical direction. Fig. 50 schematically shows an embodiment of a power transfer system according to the invention which combines the embodiment shown in Fig. 45 with respect to the transfer arms with the embodiment shown in Fig. 49 for the submarine power cable device. It should be noted that the angle that the web 12 or 12 "of horizontal submarine cables with the axis of the ship at the stern of the ship can vary approximately from 0 ° to more than 90 °, and that it is therefore useful to have a first connection assembly 5 "for which the male connector is adapted to be positioned in the female connector in any pivotal position between 0 ° and at least 90 °. It is not necessary in practice to exceed about 120 °. Otherwise, if it is desired that the end of the ply 12 or 12 "at a first connection assembly 5" is always in the axis of the ship, it is necessary to substantially increase the length of the ply to maintain a radius of curvature of this layer above the minimum required.

Figures 51 and 52 schematically show another embodiment of a first connection assembly. This first connection assembly 135 is visible in FIG. 53. It differs from the above-described connection assembly 5 "principally in that the female connector 135B contains an electromagnet 105 fed for example by direct current and arranged coaxially with the The axis of revolution of the connector The principle is the same as for the electromagnet 105 previously mentioned in connection with FIG. 19. The objective is to ensure the contact pressure by virtue of an electromagnetic attraction force between the two connectors. 135A.and 135B.The male connector 135A thus comprises a ferromagnetic disk 165 for the looping of the magnetic field in the connection position shown in FIG. The connection between the two connectors 135A and 135B is made as previously by a downward translation of the main transfer arm 125, the floating assembly 13 'being held under the arm 125 for example by means of an arm system guide installed on the boat 132 used for moving the movable portion 12. Once the electromagnet 105 powered, the boat 132 can withdraw. The displacement in vertical translation of the main transfer arm 125 may be provided sufficient to correspond at least to the variation HB of the level hO of the ship's waterline. Therefore, the second vertical transfer arm 13'C on the floating assembly 13 'can be provided relatively short, since the elevation of this arm 13'C relative to the level hO is then adjusted by vertically moving the arm of main transfer 125.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 53, a sensor 139 of the level hO of the ship's waterline is adapted to transmit information to a control device 140 for the translation actuation of the main transfer arm 125. In the phase represented in the figure prior to the connection of the two transfer arms 125 and 13'C, the upper protective cover 13'E of the male connector 135A is removed from the lower cover 13'D and stored in the boat 132 not shown. The floating assembly 13 'is pushed against an abutment element 138 fixed to the hull 127 of the ship and provided to allow the positioning of the male connector 135A at least approximately coaxially under the female connector 135B, when the lower cover 13'D is in abutment against a marked mark on the element 138. The translation operation of the arm 125 and connection of the two connectors can then take place.

To perform a quick disconnect in the event of emergency departure from the ship, it can be provided an automation that cuts power to the electromagnet 105 a few seconds after the forward operation of the propulsion unit of the ship. Even in the absence or failure of such an automation, the frustoconical shape of the male connector 135A is adapted to allow traction of the ply 12 on the second transfer arm 13'C results in a sliding and pivoting of male connector in the female connector and in a separation of the two connectors.

In particular, in order to avoid a fall of the male connector 135A in the event of accidental interruption of the supply of the electromagnet 105 during a connection state, mechanical holding means adapted to provide a holding force greater than the weight may be provided. apparent of the floating assembly 13 '. Such mechanical holding means are for example constituted by flexible fingers 13'J mounted on the opening of the lower cover 13'D of the male connector 135A, as shown in Figure 54, and adapted to cooperate with an inclined outer peripheral surface 135B of the female connector to exert a restoring force that tends to bring the two connectors when they are connected.

In FIG. 54, the electromagnet 105 is thus seconded by mechanical holding means, and its diameter can thus be somewhat reduced. The male connector 135A of frustoconical shape is here provided sufficiently wide to allow two annular contact surfaces 163 and 164 on its top. Two other contact surfaces 161 and 162 are here provided at the same height and each cover an angular sector of the order of 120 °. Indeed, as explained above with respect to FIG. 50, the useful angular displacement for the transfer arm 13'C around its vertical axis is generally of the order of 90 °. Given the angle of overlap between a contact element such as 172 on the female connector and the corresponding contact surface 162, it is possible to have an electrical contact for any positioning of the transfer arm 13'C within the limits useful angular deflection.

On the other hand, the angle α represented in the figure is preferably greater than or equal to 90 ° so as not to hinder the pivoting of the second transfer arm 13'C in a vertical plane and thus the disconnection of the assembly 135 in the case of an emergency departure of the ship which results in a significant traction on the sheet 12 in a horizontal direction.- Furthermore, it is represented on the male connector 135A crenellated surfaces including between two adjacent contact elements such than 161 and 164, so as to lengthen the line of flight between these elements. Finally, the main transfer arm 125 is not necessarily telescopic. The height of the second transfer arm 13'C can be provided sufficient for the connection assembly 135 to always be out of the water and the connector 55 always immersed for any level hO of the ship's waterline in the amplitude HB variation. The connection of the two connectors of the connection assembly 135 is then achieved by lifting the floating assembly 13 'from a boat 132 and pressing the lower cover 13'D against the periphery of the opening of the female connector until it engages this hood. The electromagnet 105 is preferably powered during this operation so as to complete the nesting.

Figure 55 has been previously described with reference to Figures 1 and 6.

Figures 56 and 57 have been previously described at the beginning of the present description. Figure 58 schematically shows another embodiment of a power transfer system according to the invention. This latter embodiment is relatively simple in comparison with the previous embodiments, in the sense that the first connection assembly 135 is not pivotable and may for example comprise two complementary connectors of substantially rectangular shapes. The contact elements may consist of power flat lugs and electrodynamic power clamps. On the other hand, the submarine cable device 1 comprises a fixed part 10 and a single mobile part 11 or 11 "for each end of the platform.There are only three subsea connectors in total: a connector under -marines 145 fixed similar to that shown in Figure 12, and two movable connectors 55 movable each connecting a web of movable portion 11 or 11 "to a second transfer arm of a floating assembly 13 'having a complementary connector of 135A power. The subsea connectors 55 are provided here to remain watertight even at a depth of _. I order twenty to thirty meters.

In any position a) or b) as shown for a movable portion 11 or 11 "of the submarine cable device, the floating assembly 13 'at the end of this portion 11 or 11" comprises a sealed cover which cap the complementary connector 135A and which can also serve to increase the buoyancy of the assembly 13 '. This assembly 13 'is attached to at least one rope 148 which is connected to a not shown winch system located on the platform through fixed sliding means consisting for example of rings and / or underwater pulleys anchored on the seabed. In the figure, a ring 147 located on the left at the end of the wharf closest to the underwater interface 200 is arranged next to the sheet of cables forming the fixed part 10 of the submarine cable device. . This fixed part 10 is placed on the seabed parallel to the direction of the wharf, so that the main transfer arm 125 disposed on a ship 100 is always relatively close to the vertical plane of curvature of the moving parts 11 and 11 " Another ring 147 located to the right at the other end of the platform is disposed approximately vertically of the floating assembly 13 'when the movable portion 11 is in the position a) called storage.

Each end of the platform is equipped with a winch system adapted to wind or unwind at least one rope 148 connected to an assembly 13 'having a complementary connector 135A _{1 in} order to act on the immersion height of a moving part 11 or 11 "of the submarine cable device with respect to the bottom, each mobile part 11 or 11" can therefore be moved in a vertical plane enters the storage position a) and the so-called float position, by actuating the corresponding winch system. In the absence of a ship at the quay, the two moving parts 11 and 11 "of the submarine cable device are generally in the storage position a), and can possibly be raised to the flotation position b) for occasional revision. for example the sealing of the protective cover of the complementary connector 135 A. In the position a) of storage, a ship can come dock the dock in one of the two possible directions of docking. immersion of the cable plies 11 and 11 "in this position a) is provided sufficient so that in the case of the tide as low as possible, the hydrodynamic turbulence of the vessel with the highest draft do not cause undue stresses on a tablecloth. Once a ship 100 is in its docking position as shown in the figure, the one or more cords 148 which are connected to the movable part 11 or 11 "concerned by the connection are released by the corresponding winch system. so as to allow this movable part to go up to its position b) of flotation At the same time, a motorized boat 132 is brought into the watering zone of the assembly 13 'so as to bring this assembly to the arm preferably, the strings 148 are detached from the assembly 13 'and attached to a buoy 149 which remains on the buoyancy zone, while the boat 132 shares with the assembly 13' as shown in FIG. position c) transporting the slick to the ship.

Since the first connection assembly 135 is not pivotable, the transfer arm 125 of the ship can be inclined with respect to the vertical. In the position d) of connecting the complementary connector 135A to a power connector 135B located at the lower end of the main transfer arm 125, the current transfer can be made between the ship and the terminal. The sheet of cables of a movable part 11 or 11 "is provided sufficiently solid, possibly with a core 28 consisting of a traction cable, for example nylon, so that an abnormal traction on this sheet causes a separation of the connectors of the connection assembly 135. Thus, the rapid disconnection in case of emergency departure from the ship remains assured.

FIG. 58 schematically represents a pivoting underwater connector of known technology, in particular patent documents EP 0 268 210 and JP 2004-104848. Although such a connector is not directly adapted to pass power currents, the principles of pivoting ball and sealing by a bellows can be taken to design a submarine power connector for connecting a cable under -marine to a sealed connection box as referenced 147 in the figure. The angle formed by the end of the submarine cable with the housing may vary by an amplitude β greater than 90 °. Such a swiveling underwater connector could for example be installed in place of the non-pivoting submarine connector 146 of the cable device shown in FIG.

In an electrical energy transfer system according to the invention, the necessary investments for the submarine power cable device and for the transfer arm or arms including the power connectors as well as for the barge (s) or craft (s) are however reasonable given the energy gains obtained by the terminal by recovering the electricity supplied by the ship at berth.

It has been described, in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 20, means for inerting the electrical connection of the connector of the power cable device and the complementary connector of the ship.

In this embodiment, the inerting is carried out by the circulation of an inert gas at the electrical connection.

Alternatively, the inerting is carried out by means of liquid circulation, for example water, around the termination of the cable device 1 but away from the electrical conductors.

For example, the end of the cable device comprises a rigid or semi-rigid outer sleeve defining an annular conduit in which liquid circulates. In this case, the complementary connector is placed at the stern of the ship. The outer sleeve extends over the entire emerged length of the cable thus ensuring a continuity of insulation by the water around the cable even in the portion of the cable located above the sea level. The termination of the cable device is thus isolated and furthermore it is cooled by the circulation of water.

Claims

A system for transferring electrical energy between a ship (100) and a port facility in a potentially explosive atmosphere, comprising at least one transfer arm (20, 20 ', 21, 22, 22', 24, 125, 13 ' C) having a plurality of electrical power conductors (3A, 3B, 3C) which are connected to at least one power connector (8, 8 ", 5" A, 5 "B, 135 A, 135 B) forming an end of said arm, said at least one power connector being adapted to be connected to at least one additional power connector (101, 5 "A, 5" B, 135 A, 135 B) in order to establish a connection state enabling an electrical power connection to be made between the port installation and electrical equipment (110) aboard the ship, characterized in that it further comprises: a device (1) of submarine power cable electrically connecting a submarine exit (200) of electrical cables of the port facility to said transfer arm, means s to circulate a non-explosive gas at least at the electrical junction between a power connector (8, 8 ", 5" A, 5 "B, 135A, 135B) and its complementary connector (101, 5" A, 5 "B, 135A, 135B), so that a possible electric arc at said junction occurs exclusively in an inert atmosphere.

Energy transfer system according to claim 1, characterized in that the underwater power cable device (1) comprises at least one portion (10, 11, 11 ', 11 ", 12, 12") which has the form of a sheet (2) consisting of a group of electrical cables (25), at least two of which are electrically isolated from each other, said sheet (2) being adapted to undergo a certain curvature.

Energy transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the submarine cable device (1) comprises a substantially stationary portion (10) and at least one portion (11, 11 ', 11 " , 12, 12 ") movable relative to a dock (50) of the port facility.

4. Energy transfer system according to claims 3 and 2 taken in combination, characterized in that at least one movable portion (11, 11 ', 11 ") of the device (1) submarine cable has the shape a tablecloth (2) flexible arranged so that its curvature is inscribed in a substantially vertical plane.

Energy transfer system according to claim 4, characterized in that the submarine power cable device (1) comprises at least a second movable portion (12, 12 ") in the form of a web (2) flexible arranged so that its curvature is inscribed in a substantially horizontal plane, a first end of said second movable portion (12, 12 ") being adapted to be electrically connected to said transfer arm (21, 22, 22 ', 125) via a first connection assembly (5, 5 ', 5 ", 135) and a second end being adapted to be electrically connected via a second connection assembly (6, 7, 146) to the vertically flexible first movable portion (11, 11 ") of the underwater power cable device (1).

6. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second connection assembly (6, 7) is pivotable.

7. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second pivoting connection assembly (6) comprises an intermediate transfer arm (23) carried by a small boat (131) and provided with a spherical head. (9) for a pivotable electrical ball connection, said intermediate arm (23) being connected to said second movable portion (12, 12 ") of the underwater power cable device (1) via a connection electric (6A, 6B) pivoting along a single axis (A1).

8. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said intermediate arm (23) has substantially the shape of an L, the shortest leg of the L being pivotally mounted on said small boat (131) according to a substantially horizontal axis.

9. Energy transfer system according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that said second set of pivoting connection (6) comprises a complementary power connector (103) adapted to be electrically connected to said spherical head. (9) and mounted on a pontoon (32) floating associated with means of guide (34) in the vertical direction which are adapted to allow said pontoon to follow the tide, said complementary connector (103) being electrically connected to the sheet forming the vertically flexible movable portion (11, 11 ', 11 ") of the device ( 1) Underwater power cable.

10. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a reservoir (35) of non-explosive gas is installed on said pontoon (32) floating and is arranged to be able to communicate with said second pivoting connection assembly ( 6) to provide a non-explosive environment around the pivotable electrical connections (9, 103, 6A, 6B) of said assembly (6).

11. Energy transfer system according to claim 6, characterized in that said second pivoting connection assembly (7) comprises an electrical connection (7A, 7B) pivoting along a single axis (A3).

12. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second pivoting connection assembly (7) comprises flotation means (7E) adapted to maintain said electrical connection (7A, 7B) pivoting out of the water, and comprises sliding means (7F) adapted to allow said second set to follow the tide by sliding along guide means (14) in the vertical direction.

13. Energy transfer system according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that at least one electrical connection (6A, 6B; 7A, 7B) pivoting along a single axis (A1, A3) comprises a connector male (6A, 7A) of substantially frustoconical shape whose axis of symmetry coincides with said single axis, said male connector comprising at least two first contact elements (161, 162) each corresponding to a conductor (3A, 3B), and comprises a female connector (6B, 7B) having a shaped recess adapted to receive the male connector, said recess defining an inner wall on the surface of which are disposed at least two second contact elements (171, 172) each adapted to cooperate with a first contact element (161, 162).

14. Energy transfer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transfer arm (20, 20 ', 21, 22, 125) comprises a telescopic electrical connection device (29, 29') confined in a non-explosive gas environment.

15. Energy transfer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said power connector forming an end of said transfer arm (20, 20 ', 21, 22, 22', 24) consists of less a spherical head (8) for a swivel electrical connection to a ball joint, and in that said complementary electrical power connector (101) is disposed on the ship (100) and has a flared opening (101A) adapted to guide said spherical head (8) to an abutting connection position to enable establishment of said system connection state.

16. Energy transfer system according to any one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that said transfer arm (21, 22, 22 ') is mounted on a motorized barge (30, 31) adapted to move any or part (11 ', 12, 12 ") of said web (2) during a docking operation of the ship (100) by said barge to connect said transfer arm to at least one additional power connector ( 101) disposed on the ship and connected to the electrical equipment (110) on board the ship.

17. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a lower end of said transfer arm (21) is integral in motion with a ball joint (4) cooperating with a support (40) of ball joint mounted on said barge (30), said ball support (40) having a hole (41) adapted to be traversed by a plunger arm (51) which encloses said electrical power conductors (3A, 3B, 3C) and has a connected submerged end sealingly to the submarine cable device (1), an emerging end of said plunger arm (51) being connected to said transfer arm (21) via a connection assembly (5, 5 ') disposed at inside said ball joint (4).

The energy transfer system of claim 16, characterized in that said transfer arm (22, 22 ") is substantially L-shaped, with the shorter branch (22B) of the L being pivotally mounted along its substantially horizontal axis (X) on a first support (31A) which is itself pivotally mounted on said barge (31) along an axis (Z) substantially vertical, and in that a power connector (5 "B) forming one end of said transfer arm is mounted on said shorter branch (22B) of L.

19. Energy transfer system according to any one of claims 17 and 18 taken in combination with claim 5, characterized in that said first connection assembly (5, 5 ', 5 ") is disposed out of the water and comprises a connector (5'A, 5 "A) pivoting along a single axis (A, A2).

20. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said connector (5'A, 5 "A) pivoting is a male connector of substantially frustoconical shape whose axis of symmetry coincides with said single axis (A , A2), said male connector being adapted to pivot in a female connector (5'B, 5 "B) mounted on said transfer arm (21, 22, 22 ') and which has a recess of substantially the same frusto-conical shape.

21. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said male connector (5'A, 5 "A) is extended along its axis of symmetry (A, A2) by a rod (52 ', 52"). ) adapted to be able to pass through a hole formed at the bottom of said recess of the female connector (5'B, 5 "B) to emerge outside said female connector, said rod being adapted to receive clamping means (53) arranged to allow maintaining contact pressure of the male connector in the female connector, bearing means (54) or sliding being further interposed between said clamping means (53) and the female connector (5'B, 5 "B) for allow the male connector to pivot along its axis of symmetry (A, A2).

22. Energy transfer system according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that said male connector (5'A, 5 "A) is integrated with a floating assembly (13) arranged around the conductors (3A, 3B, 3C) of the electrical connection made between said male connector and a second movable portion (12, 12 ") of the submarine cable device (1), said floating assembly (13) being adapted to allow the insertion of said connector male in the female connector (5'B, 5 "B) by an upward translation of said male connector along its axis of symmetry (A, A2).

23. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that variable flotation means (56) are provided integral in motion of said floating assembly (13) for effecting said upward translation by increasing by inflating means. (57, 58) the buoyancy of said assembly (13).

24. Energy transfer system according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that said floating assembly (13) comprises sliding means (13B) adapted to cooperate with vertical guide means (14 ') for allow him to follow the tide.

25. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said vertical guide means (14 ') have an upper end attached to the platform and consist of a weighted vertical cable or a vertical bar.

26. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said female connector (5 "B) is disposed at one end of said shorter branch (22B) of the L formed by said transfer arm (22, 22). '), and in that approach guide means (31 G1, 31 G2) are arranged on said barge (31) and adapted to cooperate with said vertical guide means (14 ¹ ) as well as with means for stop (64) arranged parallel to said vertical guide means (14 '), to allow the positioning of said barge (31) in an abutment position where said male connector (5 "A) is disposed under said female connector (5); "B) prior to upward translation of said male connector.

27. Energy transfer system according to claim 1, characterized in that a first transfer arm (125) is mounted substantially in a vertical position on the stern of the ship (100) and has an upper portion electrically connected to said electrical equipment. (110) aboard the vessel and a lower end formed by said power connector (5 "B, 135B), and in that a second substantially vertical transfer arm (13 'C) having at said upper end thereof connector complementary (5 "A, 135A) power has a lower portion which is electrically connected to the submarine cable device (1).

28. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said upper portion of said first transfer arm (125) comprises a telescopic electrical connection device (29, 29 ').

29. Energy transfer system according to claim 6, characterized in that said second pivoting connection assembly (6, 7) is adapted to allow inside the circulation of a non-explosive gas, and in that said second movable portion (12, 12 ") of the underwater power cable device (1) comprises a flexible pipe connected to said second connection assembly (6, 7) for feeding said non-explosive gas from the vessel (100) through the intermediate of a set of pipes (87, 87 ', 87 ") running through the transfer arm (21, 22, 22') and the first connection assembly (5, 5 ', 5").

30. Energy transfer system according to claims 4 and 3 taken in combination, characterized in that said movable and vertically flexible portion (11 ') of the device (1) of submarine cable is in a substantially perpendicular plane in the direction of the first part (10) of the device (1), said movable part (11 ') having a first end which is electrically connected to said transfer arm (21) via a connection assembly (5). and a second end which is electrically connected to said fixed portion (10) via a submerged electrical connection assembly (55 ').

31. Energy transfer system according to one of claims 4 to 29, characterized in that said device (1) of submarine cable is provided with floats (15) at least on its movable part (11, 11 '). , 11 "), said floats being provided to obtain a slightly negative buoyancy for this moving part.

32. Energy transfer system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said transfer arm (20, 20 ', 24) is carried by a support assembly (45, 65), in that said power connector (8) forming one end of said arm is adapted to be connected or disconnected with a complementary power connector (101) disposed on the ship, and in that the electrical power connection made is swiveling and fast type.

33. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said transfer arm (20, 20 ') comprises a telescopic electrical connection device (29) and is provided at its other end with a connection assembly. pivoting member (8 ', 102) having a connector (102) mounted on said support assembly (45, 65), said connector (102) being connected to an assembly (59, 148) of insulated bars which terminate at a submerged connector ( 55) connected to the submarine power cable device (1).

34. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said support assembly (45) is installed at a fixed location on the wharf (50), and in that said set (59) of insulated bars dives since the dock to a submerged connector (55) held stationary below the level (M) of the lowest tide.

35. Energy transfer system according to claim 32 taken in combination with claim 4, characterized in that said support assembly (45, 65) is movable along guide means (60, 61, 70), and said transfer arm (20, 20 ', 24) is connected to a submerged connector (55) movable with the arm and connected to the free end of the web (2) forming the mobile part (11) of the device ( 1) submarine cable.

36. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device (1) of submarine cable is formed of the same sheet (2) along its entire length.

37. Energy transfer system according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that said support assembly

(65) is mounted on an elevator member (66) adapted to be moved vertically along vertical guide means (70) by means of lifting means (68, 98), said vertical guide means being dimensioned to allow an amplitude movement of said elevator member (66) at least equal to the maximum amplitude (HM) already tide during operation of the system.

38. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor (46) able to move the along the edge of the wharf on horizontal guide means (61) fixed to the wharf, said conveyor (46) having a cantilevered structural part adapted to carry a metal structure (71) on which are fixed said vertical guide means (70).

39. Energy transfer system according to any one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that said support assembly (65) is pivotally mounted on said elevator member (66) by means of pivoting means (67) according to a vertical axis (A4).

40. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said transfer arm (24) comprises a substantially horizontal portion (24A), one end of which is formed by the pivoting connector (8) which is adapted to be rapidly connected to an electrical connector (101) on the vessel, and further comprises a substantially vertical portion (24C) which is connected to a pivotal connection assembly (7 ') having a plunger arm (7'C) connected to said submerged connector ( 55).

41. Energy transfer system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pivoting connection assembly (7 ') has a substantially frustoconical male connector (7'A) which forms the upper end of said plunger arm (7'C). ) and a female connector (7'B) connected to the base of the substantially vertical portion (24C) of the transfer arm (24), and in that the possible relative pivoting between said male and female connectors is greater than or equal to 90 °.

42. Energy transfer system according to any one of the three preceding claims, characterized in that said support assembly

(65) comprises rails (93) substantially parallel to the horizontal portion (24A) of the transfer arm (24), and in that said transfer arm (24) is suspended from a carriage (92) movable in translation on said rails (93) thanks to a motor (90) carried by said support assembly (65) 43. Energy transfer system according to claims 36 and 42 taken in combination, characterized in that said elevator member (66) supports a control station (95) adapted to accommodate an operator and having a remote control device of said motor (90) for moving said carriage (92).

44. A system for transferring energy according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for inerting the electrical connection of said at least one power connector and said complementary power connector.